LOG IN. UPLOAD PICTURES.
The Philippines has Zambo Mart to help propagate the Chavacano Language.
More benefits, interventions for organized farmer groups
- Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/911434343417/more-benefits-interventions-for-organized-farmer-groups
- Monday, June 15, 2015
- By Elsa S. Subong
ILOILO CITY, June 15(PIA)—Government has interventions for the agriculture sector and those farmers who are organized make the most out of these.
Manuel Olanday, Regional Technical Director of the Department of Agriculture-6, said that farmers who are members of associations and coops have better deals for their produce.
Olanday said in a radio interview that their lack of organizations make the farmers less bankable.
“Banks see our farmers as not bankable, hence DA designed micro-financing schemes to help them,” Olanday said.
These credit programs include Sikat-Saka Program for Rice, Agricultural Productivity Credit Program and Agriculture and Fishery Financing Program.
Olanday further said that the processing requirements for loans have been simplified such as not to burden the farmers.
He added that it is not enough for farmers to just get organized but also to sustain the associations.
Most often poor management results to the failure of the associations, including the lack of marketing skills which have been neglected as part of farming system.
“The farmers should be able to market their produce and get good deals for it,” Olanday said.
The DA is facilitating trainings on Agri-business and Marketing so that farmers can acquire skills.
Meanwhile, Olanday has advised farmers here to take advantage of the intermittent rains and start tilling their fields so that land preparation period can be shortened when the planting season begins.
With the El Niño extending for months ahead, and even till next year, farmers should, likewise, be cautious whether to plant for the second cropping or not.
“If farmers cannot plant rice, they should settle for some alternative crops,” Olanday added.