In its continuing program to improve the production of high-value crops in the Cordillera region, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and the Regional Agriculture Engineering Division (RAED) initiated the distribution of PhP3.5 million worth of agricultural equipment and machinery to farmers’ cooperative associations (FCAs) in Mountain Province and Ifugao on May 8–9, 2024, respectively.
The farm machinery distribution is part of the HVCDP, Organic Agriculture (OA) program, and the Special Area for Agriculture Development (SAAD) project.
In Bontoc, 10 FCA beneficiaries received one pump and engine set (PISOS) each, 10 FCAs received one multi-cultivators each, and 7 FCAs received 20 plastic crates each, aside from the distribution of various seedlings amounting to P1.7 million.
In Ifugao, 10 FCAs received one unit of PISOS each, 10 FCAs received one power sprayer each, and 3 units of grass cutters, flower inducers, and complete fertilizers amounting to P1.8 million.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan who was present during the distribution of farm machinery in Lagawe, Ifugao, reiterated the need for the leadership of DA to personally visit different provinces in the region to determine what other measures the department can take to improve the lives of the Cordillera farmers through the distribution of various intervention.
“The DA will always be here but the challenge to our farmers is not only on the development of project proposals but on what recommendations our farmers can provide the DA to make the projects more meaningful to the farmers. However, part of the responsibility on the side of the FCAs is on how to take care of the intervention that the department provides, reporting to DA-CAR the present state of the intervention, registering these farm machinery, what the result of the seeds provided to FCAs is currently at, collaboration with other FCAs on the selling of commodities, among others, these intervention come from the taxes that all of us pay which is why these farm machinery must be taken care of and maintained,” Dawayan said.
During the distribution in both provinces, DA-CAR reminded the provincial governments of Mountain Province and Ifugao of the creation of a local ordinance requiring civil society organization (CSO) beneficiaries to register their farm machinery for them to be part of the national database on registered agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment, in compliance with Republic Act 10601 or the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law (AFMech Law).
The registration is a ground-level system of registration by the city/municipal local government units (LGUs), in collaboration with the DA’s regional field offices (RFOs) through their Regional Agricultural Engineering Divisions (RAEDs) and the provincial LGUs.
“You are fortunate to benefit from these farm equipment. The department will keep helping organizations that help themselves. Our goals are centered on an organization’s strength rather than its number of FCAs. We also want to see organizations grow, which is why we will be mapping out CSO accredited organizations and provide the information to the LGUs for validation. This goes beyond the number of interventions that each FCA has received,” Dawayan continued.
The distribution of similar interventions is scheduled to be done in the other provinces of CAR in the coming days. By JTLlanes
