LUNA, Apayao – To boost agricultural productivity and mechanization in the province, the Office of the Agricultural Services (OAS) apportioned 5 million pesos for the procurement of farm equipment and machineries.
The effort is part of the project of the provincial government to reduce and upgrade the pre-production, production and postharvest operation and practices of farmers in Apayao by using appropriate farm machinery, equipment, and modernization technology with funding from the 20 percent PDF-Capital Outlay (CY 2024).
The machineries and equipment to be procured include 5 units of hand tractors, 3 units of machine-tilling, 6 units of multi-purpose thresher, 1 unit multi-function tiller/cultivator, 10 units of pump and engine sets, 1 unit of power sprayer coupled with diesel engine with complete accessories, 6 units of portable rice mill, and 6 units of drum seeder.
Additionally, procurement and distribution of agri-fishery farm equipment and machineries are included in the plan, serving approximately 25 farmers beneficiaries per unit.
Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr., as a staunch supporter of mechanization of farming in the province, has been pushing for adoption of new technologies and innovation as well as use of farm machines to ensure not only food security but also a sustainable livelihood for farmers.
“The world is changing; we also need to change. Saan dapat mabati ti Apayao. We need to keep working towards progress and development which is a just contribution of our generation to the next. In order to do this, to keep up, we must learn to adapt,” said the governor in an interview.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Prudencio Bosing, in a face to face conversation, explained the importance of mechanization in improving efficient and productive farming.
Through mechanization, he said, tasks that were traditionally labor-intensive and time-consuming can be executed with greater speed, precision, and efficiency, resulting in increased yields, and improved overall agricultural output in the province.
Bossing also mentioned that bidding is open to all qualified and accredited agri-fishery farm equipment and machinery dealers within and outside the province of Apayao. By Joyce Arian Soria
