OROQUIETA CITY (PIA)–The Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD)-10 conducted an equipment operation demonstration to farmer’s association (FA)-recipients for the 14 units hand tractor/multi-crop cultivator, held in Oroquieta City.
Said equipment, amounting to P2.99 million will be given to 10 FAs which will benefit more than 500 farmer-members, particularly those producing high value crops to increase vegetable production in the region.
DA-SAAD 10 Focal Person Lana Mae S. Racines emphasized the importance of conducting the said demo, which was done with the assistance of the Provincial Operations Center and Provincial Agriculture’s Office of Misamis Occidental.
“We wanted to capacitate our beneficiaries on how to use the equipment properly before handing them over to avoid misuse of the equipment that can lead to its damage. At the same time, we want to empower themselves in the upkeep of the equipment and to save up for the purpose of hiring laborers,” she detailed.
Racines added that the agency also eyes the use of such equipment, not only for food production but also as an enterprise by the benefiting FAs.
“They can have it rented in order to generate extra income and also have a source of funds for its maintenance while extending help to their fellow farmers,” Racines said.
SAAD is a locally funded program intended to alleviate poverty among those considered the poorest of the poor. (DA-10/PIA-10)
