Photo from MAFAR
COTABATO CITY—Farming can now be easier and more efficient for Maguindanao farmers after receiving Php205,730,000.00 worth of machinery from BARMM’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech).
In a ceremony held on March 14, at BARMMIARC, Simuay Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, a total of 105 farmer’s cooperative associations from Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur received 228 units of various agricultural machinery and postharvest facilities from DA-PhilMech.
Funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the distribution included a four-wheel tractor, hand tractor, floating tiller, Precision seeder, walk-behind transplanter, reaper combine harvester, recirculating dryer, mobile rice mill, and rice combine harvester, among others.
Undersecretary for Special Concerns and BARMM Engr. Zamzamin Ampatuan, PhilMech Interim Director Joel Detor, Director for Agriculture Operations Engr. Ismael Guimel, Director Tong Abas of Research, Development, and Extension Services, and Maguindanao Provincial Director Dr. Ronjanin Maulana led the activity.
“Isa pong karangalan at hamon sa aming ahensiya na ang PhilMech ang trabahong ito na pinagkatiwala sa amin ng ating pamahalaan, dahil instrumento po kami upang maihatid sainyo ang pinakabago, pinakamaganda, at tunay na mapakinabangan na makinarya,” Detor said.
“Sa ngalan ng paglilingkod sa mga bayani ang mga minamahal nating magsasaka, wala pong hinihinging kapalit ang aming serbisyong ito, sapagkat alam namin na nararapat lamang natapatan ang sigasig ninyo na upang mapakain ang nasa 114 million Filipino sa bawat taon,” he added.
Meanwhile, Maguindanao Provincial Director Dr. Maulana said: “Sa aming minamahal naming magsasaka, kayo po ang champion at pinakaimportanteng sector ng lipunan dahil kayo ang nagbibigay ng pagkain saaming hapag kainan.”
“Ang mga makinaryang ito ay makakatulong sa inyong pamumuhay ngunit hinihingi namin sa inyo na itoy alagaan at ingatan para aabot pa sa susnod na henerasyon ng mga magsasaka sa inyong lugar,” Maulana added.
Moreover, MAFAR Director Guiamel emphasized the accountability and responsibility of the farmers in accepting the farm machinery by using it properly to help them generate income. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from MAFAR-IO)
