LAOAG CITY — Several farmers’ groups in the second district of Ilocos Norte are elated as the government finally granted their requests for farm machinery.
Gerson Abadilla, president of the Sagpatan Farmers Association in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, woke up earlier than usual on Monday morning, more inspired to go to the rice field.
For the first time, a brand new unit of hand tractor will be plowing his rice field without him having to shell out thousands of pesos to pay for labor.
Under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) farm machinery distribution program, some 20 Ilocos farmers’ associations in the towns of Badoc, Paoay, Pinili, San Nicolas, Dingras, Banna, Solsona and Batac City are among the latest recipients of more than PHP40 million worth of agriculture machinery which the farmers are now enjoying.
“We are thankful the government has finally granted our requests. This is our first time to receive such a wonderful blessing which will help us a lot in tending to our farms,” Abadilla said.
Following the distribution of more farm machines late last week led by Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Annie Bares, Chief Field Operations of the DA in Region 1 (Ilocos Region), expressed hope the farmer-beneficiaries will take good care of them.
“I hope they will handle with care the agri-machines. It’s a Philippine government support to those who feed us. It aims to improve their productivity which will redound to improved quality of life in Ilocos region,” Bares said in an interview after the distribution of the agri-machines in Batac City.
The farm machinery handed to farmers’ organizations in the province include three units of combine harvester; two units of hand tractor; 32 units of pump and engine sets; one mobile dryer; one unit corn harvester; six units of four-wheel drive tractor; two units of corn sheller; six units of multipurpose cultivator; 48 knapsack sprayers; five units of power sprayer and one unit of vacuum-pack sealer.
According to Bares, there are more requests for agri-machines pending at the DA which they hope to release soon.