Marcos vows more farm aid to boost farmers' output
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Farmers in Mindanao can expect farm machineries and equipment, irrigation systems, and technologies to boost their production as part of President Marcos’ continuous support for them.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. leads the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II in Pikit, Cotabato on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
In his media interview in Cotabato on Monday, April 29, the Chief Executive vowed to keep supporting farmers as they aim to uplift their lives.
“Kukuha tayo ng mga makinarya, ng mga equipment… farm equipment, kasama na diyan ‘yung tractor, ‘yung mga post harvest facility. Para mas maganda ang hanap-buhay ng ating mga farmer (We will get machinery, equipment… farm equipment, with tractors and post harvest facility. Farmers will have better livelihoods),” he told reporters.
“At hindi na sila masyadong nag-aalala at mas mababa pa ang production cost para mas malaki naman ang kita nila (This way, they won’t have to worry because the production cost is lower and their income is higher). This is the same thing that we’ve been trying to do all around the country,” he added.
Marcos also assured that the government is on top of the situation regarding the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, citing the irrigation systems, dams, and impounding pools that his administration has prioritized since November last year.
These, he added, later paid off with a much better agriculture production during the latest harvest season.
“Siyempre bababa ang ani natin dahil walang tubig. Ngunit sa mga area na may patubig mas tumaas ang production rate natin (Of course, our harvest will decrease because there’s no water. But in the areas with irrigation, our production rate increased),” Marcos explained.
The Chief Executive added that the tons per hectare of the irrigated areas are higher because of government intervention.
“So, ang susi talaga rito ay palawakin ang irrigation system. At ‘yun ang ginagawa natin. Isang magandang halimbawa itong ating binuksan ngayong araw (The key here is to expand the irrigation system. That’s what we are doing. One good example is the one we opened today),” he said.
The President was in Cotabato to lead the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II (MMIP II), which will benefit more than 4,000 farmers there.