Photo from MAFAR
COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform’s (MAFAR) Office of the Special Development Fund initiated the construction of a multi-purpose solar drying pavement to help Maguindanao Del Sur farmers enhance their post-harvest management by reducing agricultural losses.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 2 for farmers in Barangay Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan of the said province.
The new solar dryer, worth Php555,000.00 and to be constructed by Malaguena Construction, will have a total dimension of 10 x 30 meters with a thickness of 10 centimeters, and a drying capacity of 70-80 bags.
MAFAR Maguindanao Chief Agriculturist Saudi Mangindra said, “Agricultural losses are inevitable, and having a solar drying pavement is essential for the farmers’ production process,”
The solar dryer’s construction received an overwhelmingly positive response from the locals, particularly from the Barangay Secretary of Lower Salbu.
“Our source of income here in our barangay is mainly farming and we are very thankful to MAFAR for this assistance. We are very lucky to become the recipient of this construction of solar dryer because as a farmer, we [really] need this here in our community,” the Brgy. Secretary said.
MAFAR Chief of the Engineering Section Engr. Ashnaira Abdullah hopes that more government projects will benefit both farmers and the fisheries sector.
The construction of the new solar drying pavement is expected to be completed within 45 working days after the groundbreaking ceremony. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from MAFAR)
