Japan has turned over P314 million-worth of agricultural equipment to sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental.
In a ceremony held over the weekend, the Japanese Embassy in Manila joined in the inauguration of machinery for Bacolod City farmers that it offered under its non-project grant aid.
In providing assistance, the embassy said that while Negros Occidental is the Philippines' foremost sugar-producing province, the increasing demand, both domestically and internationally, has resulted in "a crucial need to augment productivity and efficiency while supporting sugarcane farmers in improving their income."
While the Philippine government already implemented a farm mechanization program, Japan would like to extend more support by providing 80 farm tractors and 48 mechanical planters for sugarcane farmers all over the Philippines, including in Negros Occidental.
That was done through the P314 million Non-Project Grant Aid, one of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) schemes, the embassy said.
The embassy's First Secretary and Agriculture Attaché, Tachikawa Jumpei, in his speech recognized the role of the sugarcane industry in the country's economic and social development.
He also expressed Japan's commitment to assist the Philippines in creating better solutions for the agriculture sector.