THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental have distributed agricultural machinery and cash incentives worth about P10.5 million to farmers in the province.
DA-Western Visayas Executive Director Remelyn Recoter and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the distribution at the Provincial Capitol grounds in Bacolod City on Tuesday, July 13.
Seven local government units (LGUs) and three farmer associations in the province received P9.5 million worth of machinery.
The recipient-localities included cities of Himamaylan, Sipalay, and Escalante, and towns of Calatrava, Hinoba-an, San Enrique, and La Castellana.
The associations, on the other hand, are Newton-Camingawan-Para (Necapa) Farmers Association in Bago City, Buhing Tubi Diversified Farmers Association (Budfa) in Cauayan, and Batuan Farmers and Farmworkers Association in La Carlota City.
The machinery such as rotary composters and shredding machines were distributed through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the Office of Senator Cynthia Villar who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food.
The Provincial Government, in a statement, said the project aims to hasten the recycling of biodegradable wastes for organic fertilizers that will also help address waste management.
This is in reference to the "Establishment of Composting Facility for Biodegradable Wastes" under the National Organic Agriculture Program and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, it added.
Meanwhile, a total of 368 rice farmers from Valladolid also received Quick Turn Around (QTA) incentives totaling P1,008,440.
The QTA/Early Planting project under the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is aimed at responding to the food production and marketing needs of farmers affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
It has helped in addressing concerns on food shortage and availability of rice especially at the height of the pandemic last year.