BACOLOD City – Thirteen farmer groups in Negros Occidental received P2.3 million worth of farm machines.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and officer-in-charge provincial agriculturist Dr. Dina Genzola led the ceremonial turnover of threshers to the recipients at Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFOTeC) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City last week.
The recipients were Tuy-anan Farmers Association in Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto; Camao Farmers SWISA in Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava; Sta. Rosa Small Farmers Association and Gloria Ilimnan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) Farmers Association in Barangay Sta. Rosa, and Pandanon Silos Farmers Association in Barangay Pandanon Silos, all in Murcia; Binintigan Farmers and Rural Farm Workers Association in Barangay XI, Victorias City; Sandungao SWISA in Barangay Bacong, Bago City; Siga-siga Agrarian Reform Farmers Association in Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana; Hacienda Jardiolin ARB in Barangay Magallon Cadre, Moises Padilla; Barangay Culipapa CEMECO SWISA and Dangula Culipapa Farmers Beneficiaries of SWISA in Hinoba-an; TABSI SWISA in Barangay Payawan, Candoni; and Federation of Irrigators Association – Central Negros (FIACN).
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist also conducted an orientation session on the operation, maintenance and rules for the rice threshers to ensure the proper use and upkeep of the machinery.
Genzola said these custom-built rice threshers are designed for enhanced efficiency, offering significantly higher capacity compared to manual threshers.
They are expected to minimize post-harvest losses and improve productivity, providing valuable support to the farming communities of Negros Occidental, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist added./PN
