Tupi, South Cotabato. The Department of Agriculture 12 released on Monday, June 18, 2018, P168-M worth of farm machines and postharvest facilities to local governments and farmers’ associations.
The activity which was done at the agency’s research and experiment station here is in connection with the intensified farm mechanization program of the DA.
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol spearheaded the mass distribution of farm machines which were received by local officials coming from the four provinces and two cities covered by the region.
Some of the farm machines being turned-over were rice and corn combine harvesters, tractors, among others.
Secretary Piñol has said that the Philippines has one of the lowest farm mechanization rates among ASEAN-member countries prompting the administration of President Rody Duterte to pour billions into the procurement of farm equipment for distribution to farmers and fisherfolks.
“The DA is also offering the Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment Loaning Program for associations and cooperatives who would like to acquire additional implements.” He added.
The AFME loaning program, he said, is handled by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), an agency under the DA which extends loans for the purchase of tractors, harvesters and other equipment at two percent (2%) interest per year payable in eight years.
DA creates loaning facilitation teams in provinces
At the sidelines of the mass distribution event, Secretary Piñol has announced that the DA is set to launch loaning facilitation teams in provinces nationwide.
He further disclosed that with the on-going implementation of his brainchild, the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program through the ACPC, the agency has already established teams that will accept and facilitate loan applications from the farmers.
“Their main task is to only entertain your application for loan and prepare the documents,” the agri chief said.
He observed that some of the setbacks why farmers opt to go to private lending entities rather than availing of government loans are because of the complicated process and the endless list of requirements.
“That is why we created the loaning facilitation teams in the provinces… they will be in charge not just in assessing your application but as well as preparing the documents for you… we will get rid also of the tedious process,” Sec. Piñol emphasized.
He also noted that the team will conduct close coordination with the provincial local government units.
PLEA program was launched last year which caters to loan application of farmers who are members of a registered cooperative or association. This financing program has a six percent (6%) annual interest.
Farmers can avail of financing support up to P50,000 which they will use to purchase seeds for planting, fertilizer and other production support.
This made-easy-for-farmers credit facility of the government is the antidote to the delayed delivery of seeds caused by the long and tiresome government procurement processes.
“We will no longer procure seeds… with the long bidding process, we cannot timely deliver the seeds because farmers have already finished planting… sometimes if we wait longer the seeds will have low germination rates,” Sec. Piñol explained.
He said that the loaning program is an alternative for farmers where they can freely choose the best quality of seeds.
DA to construct 2,000 solar-powered irrigation projects until 2019
“I will request DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Año to send memorandum to local governments to submit to us listing of areas which could be served by solar-powered irrigation,” Piñol noted during the event.
The DA plans to put up 2,000 solar powered irrigation system projects all over the country until 2019 which could approximately provide water to 100,000 rainfed rice areas.
With these areas provided by enough water, additional 1,000,000 million metric tons of rice will be produced.
Meanwhile, the agri czar urged local chief executives in the country to initiate water impounding programs in their localities. This will serve as their counterpart to the DA’s advocacy of solar-powered irrigation system.
“We can be rice sufficient, if we have enough water,” he said.
Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte switched-on the prototype of this project in M’lang, North Cotabato, and the DA has completed the first fully-operational SPIS project in Matalam, North Cotabato. Around 169 similar projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
IP groups ink market deal for ube, camote
Members of the tribal communities in Central Mindanao have entered into a marketing deal with a Bulacan-based organic food processing company for the supply of organic purple ube and camote.
Leaders of the Manobo and B'laan tribes who live in the mountains of Central Mindanao came down on Monday to meet with young businesswoman Almay Gaw-See, owner of Oh, So Healthy! Foods to enter into a supply agreement which would earn the tribes an estimated P300, 000 every month.
The market linkage started when Secretary Manny met Almay Gaw-See during the International Food Expo (IFEX) event last month at the World Trade Center in Manila.
The aggie chief shared that Gaw-See had a booth which displayed fruit and rootcrop chips which she produced organically and were packaged beautifully which caught his attention.
During their talk, she confided to the secretary that one of her problems was where to get her supply of organically grown purple ube and camote.
She said she needed an initial supply of 10 metric tons every month and that she was buying the crops at P35 per kilo.
When the secretary confirmed the availability of the supply in Central Mindanao, the tribal leaders were asked to meet with Almay Gaw-See. The deal was sealed with a handshake.
After their dialogue with the buyer, the tribal leaders went home hopeful of a better life and said they will start digging for the ube and the camote in their ancestral lands.
Secretary Piñol said that the DA will also help the tribes in planting more ube and camote.
The secretary has expressed his happiness after the signing of the deal between the previously neglected people and an enterprising young businesswoman. (CULAguillon/LMSalvo/DA-RAFIS 12 with reports from MannyPiñol FB page)
Photo Caption:
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol turns-over more than P168-M worth of farm equipment to local officials of Region 12 during the mass distribution of farm machines held at DA's research and experiment station in Tupi, South Cotabato on June 18, 2018.
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