P43.4M worth agricultural equipment awarded to farmer groups in CAR

Baguio City, Philippines – Farmers’ Cooperative and Associations (FCAs) from Apayao, Abra and Mt. Province and the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera received a total of P43,440,000 worth of agricultural equipment from national DA.

In a press release No. 20-188 of DA-CAR, DA Secretary William Dar turned over eight hauling tracks, two refrigerated trucks, and a water well drilling rig to the beneficiaries during a ceremony held at Dairy Processing Center, Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC), Dontogan, Baguio City on October 29, 2021.

Eight FCAs get a hauling track each with a total cost of P16.5 million from the Rice Program and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Division (AMAD) funds.

Meanwhile, the two refrigerated trucks amounting to almost P5 million under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) fund were given to 2 FCAs.

The water well drilling rig and support equipment, on the other hand, was handed over to DA-CAR. The equipment costs P22 million and was funded under the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).

Said interventions, according to DA-CAR, “aims to strengthen the FCA’s existing marketing enterprise on agricultural commodities, ensuring safe and quality produce delivered to consumers, helping farmers market their produce and earn income.”

Said programs are in consonance with the OneDA Reform Agenda: consolidation, modernization, industrialization, and professionalization.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for DA’s support, which will surely improve the quality of their produce.

Secretary Dar, in his message, said that the government needs to empower the cooperatives to fight traders who are solely profit-oriented.

“We grab every opportunity to provide our farmers trucks, machineries, etc., so that they will be more productive and will have higher profit. Thus, they will achieve Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita,” Dar said.

The ceremonial turn-over was also graced by DA Asec of Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, DA Asec of Operations Arnel de Mesa, OIC-Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey, RTD for Operations Danilo Daguio, RTD for Research and Regulations Jennilyn Dawayan, and RAED Chief Filemon Salvador.