By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Farmers in Oriental Mindoro are looking forward to the next cropping season after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed rice harvesters to three farmers’ cooperatives in the province.
DAR Secretary John Castriciones said the rice harvesters, worth a total of P5.1 million, would help modernize farming in the province.
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
“These farm machines are being given to agrarian cooperatives to support and improve farmers’ agricultural productivity,” he said.
“With these machines, more than 500 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and non-ARBs can now harvest their rice faster and more efficiently. These will greatly help in decreasing losses in production and increasing their yield and income,” he added.
Cooperative manager Elpidio Embanecido Jr., who formally received the farm machine on behalf of his group said the implement will be of big help to their members.
“It will speed up our harvesting time and reduce rice wastage,” Embanecido, who manages the Kooperatiba ng Pamayanang Kristiyano ng Mapaya in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, said.
DAR Regional Director Eugene Follante, who assisted Castriciones in the ceremonial distribution, said the provision of farm machines is being implemented under the Climate Resilience Farm Productivity Support Project.
“The goal of the project is to enhance and sustain farmers’ productivity as adaptation towards resiliency and impacts of climate change,” Follante said.
The project is being implemented in agrarian reform communities (ARCs) and non-ARCs that have been identified to be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.