LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – In a continuous support to the High Value Crops Development Program, the Department of Agriculture–Cordillera (DA-CAR) turned over various agricultural machinery and equipment worth PhP21 million to Benguet farmers today, May 9, 2024 in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Said interventions consist of four rain shelters, 33 tractors, 20 power sprayers, and 10 pump irrigation systems from open source (PISOS). These interventions were provided to 29 farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) that are producing cabbages, potatoes, Chinese cabbages, carrots, and snap beans.
Being the major source of semi-temperate vegetables in the country, the interventions aim to aid the farmers in boosting the production of vegetables to sustain food security in the country.
In his message, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council Chairperson and Farmer Regional Executive Director Ryan Palunan underscored the importance of upscaling and innovating agricultural practices, highlighting how new technologies can significantly enhance production.
“It is a challenge for us as the population is rapidly increasing, but with the help of the government through these interventions, I hope that we can improve our practices so we can produce more food,” he said adding that farmers must also upscale through accessing agri-related trainings and seminars being provided by the government for their improvement as agripreneur and can gradually be independent.
Further, representatives from the office of Congressman Eric Go Yap and Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin advised the beneficiaries to utilize, take care, and maintain the interventions they were given. Furthermore, he also promoted good agricultural practices or GAP, and organic agriculture for the benefit of the farmers’ health and for the next generation to see the best practices of each association and therefore, copy them in their farming practices.
In an acceptance message, Am Am Ug-Ugbo President Pablo E. Ponchohan expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the interventions they had received which are of huge help in their farming activities.
“Dakkel ay panyamananmi sin danay ay katulungan mi ay mangarden. San layad yo en dakami ay farmers ket nawmet ay riknaen mi… Isu nga iyaman sin panangtultulong yo en dakami manipud sin wada ed province, region ya munisipyo ya en dakayo amin ay mangiturturong en dakami ta mumaymayat pay ti panaggarden mi.”
“𝘋𝘢𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘮𝘪 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯. 𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰 𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘯𝘢𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪. 𝘐𝘴𝘶 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰 𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘺𝘰 𝘺𝘢 𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘵𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪,” [We deeply appreciate all the agricultural assistance you have provided us. We can feel your love to us farmers. So, we are truly grateful for the continuing assistance from the province, region and municipal governments and to all who are guiding us towards better farming], he expressed. He also encouraged the other farmers to continue their good agricultural practices.
A ‘how-to’ demonstration of the machinery and equipment was also conducted during the activity. Accordingly, a certificate of ownership of machinery is needed to establish the ownership and to create a national database of machinery and equipment for monitoring and planning purposes.
Also in attendance are Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan, Office of the Governor representative Mario Baucas, and several Municipal Agriculturists. By Cy-j E. Waytan