CITY OF SAN FERNANDO- Hundreds of farmer-members of San Miguel-Concepcion Irrigators Association Inc. (SMIAI) from San Simon town lauded the provincial government as acting Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao approved the immediate release of their request for farm equipment before the end of planting season.
This came as members of SMIAI had expressed alarm that their farmlands will not be tilled on time, hence, they made an appeal to the acting governor to act on their request for farm equipment to the Department of Agriculture.
It was learned that the DA will shoulder the 85 percent of the total cost of the farm machinery while the remaining 15 percent will be the share of the farmers’ cooperative.
SMIAI President Orlando Cunanan said more than 140 hectares are still untilled because of the lack of machineries, though, he added that the seedlings are ready to be planted.
“Lumalaki na yung binhi ng mga palay kaya lang di pa pweding magpatanim kasi halos hindi pa na-aararo ang mga bukid, nag-aalala na yung mga kasamahan namin na baka hindi sila makahabol sa panahon ng taniman”, he said.
This prompted the acting governor to immediately coordinate with Department of Agriculture to act on the purchased request of the farmers that consists of ten hand tractors with trailer, ten rice reapers, and two wheel tractors with farm implements.
“We will fast track the release of the needed farm equipment and assure our farmers the release of these tools as soon as possible”, said Guiao.
With the assurance from the acting governor, the farmers rejoiced adding that this equipment will also boost their income and will lessen their expenses.
“Limang daan bawat ektarya ang binabayaran namin sa pag-arkila ng traktora kaya malaking tulong sa amin ito. Bibilis din an gaming pagtatanim at pag-ani,” they said.
On the other hand, Fourth District Board Member Ric Yabut said that the provincial government will continue to support them by giving seedlings, fertilizers and pesticides.(Jenna Lumbang, PIO Pampanga)
