To speed up the farm activities of the local rice farmers and to reduce their production costs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas turned over one unit rice combine harvester worth P2.2 million and five units granule applicators amounting to P240,000.00 to Sara Facoma Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Iloilo.
DA Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter said that the cooperative was granted these machineries as their reward for selling at least 5,000 bags of clean and dry palay annually to the National Food Authority (NFA).
“Projected to lessen the expenses incurred in growing palay, these machinery projects were funded under the Machinery for Agricultural Needs Incentives (MANI) program, a government initiative years ago intended to encourage farmers to support the NFA procurement,” said Recoter.
The rice combine harvester can operate in at least 0.73 hectares of areas per hour, with 75.5 percent efficiency, and 6.8 liters per hour fuel consumption. It is also coupled with a transport trailer.
Meanwhile, the knapsack-type, gasoline-powered-engine granule applicator can be used as a seed sower, broadcaster, and a pesticide and fertilizer sprayer.
“Mabudlay mangita sang manuggarab subong kag kung tawo lang mag ani, madugay matapos. Ang makinarya nga ini daku guid nga mabulig sa amun nga mangunguma. Mahapos na ang pag harvest kag indi na ma delay ang pag ani sang amun nga palay,” said Grace A. Segaya, coop chairperson.
Aside from Sara Facoma MPC, the Aganan River Federation of Irrigators’ Association of Brgy. Mambog, Oton was also granted four units granule applicator during the distribution held recently at Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC), Jaro, Iloilo City. # # # (AMSTabura/DA-RFO VI, RAFIS)
