MECHANIZED farming is important for local farmers to have better yield.
This was stressed by Negros Ocicdental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. during the Field Day and Harvest Festival in Purok Camingawan, Barangay Taloc in Bago City yesterday.
The farm mechanization program of the provincial government started in December 2018. It was launched in the 203.85-hectare portion of the said area.
Bago City was identified as the pilot area for the program because of its huge potential for rice production.
In fact, it is considered as the rice granary of Negros Occidental.
It will also be replicated in other towns and cities of the province, a Capitol press release said.
The activity, meanwhile, was spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, Bago City Government, National Food Authority, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., and Bayer Crop Science, among other partner agencies.
Marañon said that the use of the combined harvester saves time and makes work easier and faster. It will increase production too, he said.
Also present at the activity were the farmer-members of the Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers’ Association who lauded the government for the implementation of the farm mechanization program.
OPA also distributed seeds to the farmers and turned over checks for insurance claims.
The distribution was also witnessed by Fourth District Board Member Victor Javellana, provincial consultant and former governor Rafael Coscolluela, and Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino. (PR)