BACOLOD City – Fourteen farmers’ associations in Bago City, Negros Occidental were given P4.2-million worth of farm equipment and projects from the local government.
Particularly among rice farmers, machinery contributes to the improvement of yield, according to Mayor Nicholas Yulo.
As of November this year, Bago’s average rice yield was pegged at 4.4 metric tons per hectare, up from the 4.1 metric tons per hectare in 2017.
“By boosting our production, we can also contribute to increasing the province’s rice self-sufficiency level and ensuring food security,” Yulo said.
Dubbed the rice granary of Negros Occidental, Bago contributes to 19 percent of the total rice production in the province.
A hand tractor, two threshers, multi-tilling machine, three rice planting machines, and five pumps with engines were given out to 10 farmers’ associations.
They included the Punta Playa Multi-Purpose Association, Mailum Organic Village Association, Barangay Napoles Women Association for Rural Improvement, Fermina Small Water Impounding System Association, Bago Integrated Farmers Association, Small Farmers Association of Abuanan, Dulao and Antipuluan, Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers Association, Barangay Malingin Farmers Association, Association of Rice Farmers of Tabunan, and the Sagasa Women’s Group.
They were also given livelihood projects like balut (fertilized duck egg) making, food processing, salted egg making, and mushroom production.
Four fisherfolk associations – Taloc Baybay Fisherfolk Association, Calubay Anahaw Small Fishermen Association, Can-itum Integrated Fisherfolk Association, and Barangay Calumangan Integrated Fisherfolk Association – were provided alternative livelihood projects such as fish vending and rag making, as well as cooking equipment and facilities.
Yulo and Bago City agriculturist Carlito Indencia led the distribution on Dec. 13 in Barangay Balingasag.
The Bago City government funds the machinery and the livelihood projects through its Agriculture Development Program, Indencia said.
The program is aimed at developing the rice and fishery sectors, and providing farmers and fisherfolk alternative sources of income, he said. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
