Mindoro farmers get P90M worth of farm machines

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently turned over to the local government of Occidental Mindoro P90.7 million worth of farm machineries for distribution to farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives that participated in the department’s counterpart funding scheme.

The farm machineries were turned over to Occidental Mindoro governor Gene Mendiola and farmer’s associations during turnover ceremonies held in the municipality of Sta. Cruz on Sept. 11.

The DA implements a cost-sharing scheme with cooperatives in which the government shoulders 85 percent of the cost of farm equipment and the qualified farmer organization shoulders the remaining 15 percent.

Through this financing scheme, landless farmers are able to avail of various machines like reapers, threshers, transplanters, and hand tractors.

The DA is pushing for greater mechanization in Philippine farms to strengthen the production capability of farmers, thus enabling them to cope with increased trade pressure that would come with the economic integration in Southeast Asia by 2015.

The Philippines still lags behind other countries in Southeast Asia in terms of farm mechanization. Among the leaders in Asia are Japan with a mechanization level of seven horsepower pe hectare (hp/ha), South Korea at 4.11 hp ha, China with 4.10 hp/ha, and Vietnam with 1.56 hp/ha.

The Philippines’s farm mechanization level is now at par with those of Pakistan and India which also has mechanization levels of 1.02 ph/ha.

The Philippines imports most of its farm machinery needs especially heavy equipment like combined harvesters.

Prior to the procurement of the machinery, the DA said its regional engineering staff evaluated the legitimacy of the Occidental Mindoro cooperatives based on their registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and their capacity to participate in the counterpart funding.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Occidental Mindoro is a suitable place for boosting production of fruits and rice.

Fisherfolk in the province, he said, must do away with illegal fishing methods.

He noted that certain parts of the province could be developed into agro-tourism sites for foreign students.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) would also establish in the province an Integrated Rice-Based Agricultural Systems (IRBAS) station that would focus on the production of high-quality inbred and hybrid rice seeds that may be used by farmers in the province.

 “It will highlight scientific rice production system and will showcase modern rice-based farming and bio-diversified farming system,” said Alcala.

He has also instructed PhilRice executive director Eufemio Rasco Jr. to add programs for the cultivation of rice and raising of ducks and fish among the priority projects of the station.

Alcala also recognized the emerging tuna industry in the province and urged local fishers to explore the processing of oysters, abalone and seaweeds for which the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources would conduct special trainings.

He also urged garlic farmers to increase their produce by using greenhouses and seedling trays.

Alcala said, Mindoro is fast-becoming a “food basket” for three critical growth regions in the country: NCR, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA.