News Details

Aurora agri sector gets boost via P47-M machinery from DA

NPO

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October 18, 2024

PNA

BALER, Aurora – Farmers in this province are expected to improve their production through a new set of agricultural machinery from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), an attached agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In an interview on Thursday, Governor Reynante Tolentino said the farm machines are seen to boost agricultural productivity and reduce postharvest losses, directly benefiting the recipients of the program.

"As the province is abundant in farmlands, it is rightful to exert much more effort to look after the agricultural sector in order to uplift the lives of the farmers," he said.

Tolentino thanked PhilMech, saying that the farm machines are big step toward a bountiful harvest for the farmers and will help a lot in the development of Aurora's agricultural sector including the cooperatives.

Benedict Calonge, chairperson of the Buhangin Rice Farmers' Association, one of the groups that received the donated machinery, said in a phone interview that they are very thankful to the DA-PhilMech, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Senator Cynthia Villar for the equipment that would help them yield more crops in less time and with greater efficiency.

Tolentino and PhilMech Director Joel Dator led the turnover of the machinery at the Aurora Trading Center Compound in Barangay Suklayin here on Wednesday.

Dator said the equipment were funded under the 2024 Rice Competitiveness and Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program of the government.

The donation consisted of 35 farm machines worth a total of PHP47.78 million. It included four-wheel tractors, rice harvesters and driers. 

Tolentino said the machinery would also contribute to the improvement of the province's food supply.