More than P16.5 million worth of farm machineries were awarded by the national government through the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Mechanization (PhilMech) and the Pampanga provincial government to 53 farmers’ groups throughout the province.
This developed as the national government provided the P14,042,000 or 85 percent share of the total amount of farm machineries while the Pampanga provincial government shouldered the P2,478,000 equivalent to 15 percent share of the farmer-beneficiaries.
Governor Lilia G. Pineda who met with DA officials and leaders of the farmers’ organizations in barangay San Pablo in Lubao town lauded the national government’s support in empowering the farmers sector as she enjoined the beneficiaries to properly handle and maintain the machineries entrusted to them.
The farm machineries include four wheel tractors, combined harvesters, rice reapers and threshers, drum seeders, flat bed dryers, rice seed cleaners, MPDP and hand tractors.
Leaders of the various farmers’ groups expressed their gratitude to the DA, PhilMech and to the provincial government for shouldering the 15 percent counterpart of the beneficiaries.
The governor instructed them to devise strategies and come up with a system to ensure the efficient use of the machineries in each of the four districts.
“Dapat mayroon kayong sistema o guidelines sa paggamit ng mga makinarya at tiyaking linisin ang mga ito pagkatapos gamitin para mapakinabangan sa mahabang panahon.”
Priorities should be given to those who could not afford to buy the machineries as these equipment are intended to empower the marginalized farmers and increase their farm production, the governor explained.
The concerned farmers’ associations will shoulder the diesel and maintenance expenses of the equipment while the provincial government will provide the necessary assistance for repair.
The chief provincial executive also assured the farmer-beneficiaries that the provincial government has millions of funds to address the needs and ensure the development of the agriculture sector.
Last year, the provincial government has provided the local farmers 12,000 cavans of hybrid seeds worth P14 million.
Pineda also informed the group that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved the provision of shallow tube wells to corn farmers while plans are underway for the construction of feed mills and warehouses in strategic areas of the province.
Board Members Salvador Dimson, Jr., Cris Garbo, Teresito Lingad, Monina Laus, Trina David and Fritzie David-Dizon, Provincial Agriculturist Crispin Guintu along with officials of DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform and municipal agriculture officers attended the meeting with the farmers’ leaders. (Erlinda T. Yutuc, Pampanga PIO)
