Negrense irrigators get Php15-M worth of agricultural equipment
- Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=948575
- Thursday, December 15, 2016
- (PNA), PGL/NLG/EPN
BACOLOD CITY (PNA) -- A total of Php15 million in agricultural equipment and tools were turned over Wednesday by the Negros Occidental provincial government to 128 irrigators’ associations in the province.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. led the turn-over rites held at the National Irrigation Administration-Negros Island Region Irrigation Office (NIA-NIRIO) in Bago City.
Marañon said the provincial government plans to implement more irrigation projects for Negrense farmers, whom he urged to take good care of the projects provided to them by the government.
The governor was joined by Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region Executive Director Joyce Wendam; Engineer Mario Sande, NIA regional irrigation manager; and Rosemary Caunca, provincial consultant on Local Governance and Inter-Local Government Alliance for Agricultural Productivity.
The project dubbed “Purchase of Farm Equipment and Machineries and Operationalization of Rice Processing Center,” is funded by the provincial government of Negros Occidental through grants and donations.
The farm machineries include 50 units of hand tractor with engine, 50 units of thresher with engine, four units of rice mill, one rice cart trolley, one unit of heavy duty weighing scale, and five push carts.
Recipient-associations also received 50 units of pump and engine with suction for mobile irrigation, 10 units of motorized grass cutter, and 10 units of knapsack sprayer, among others.
The project also covers the installation of electrical and water systems for the rice processing center located at Barangay Bagroy, also in Bago City.
The processing center was provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Federation of Irrigators’ Association Central Negros (FIACN).
Caunca, who is also the president of the League of Government-Assisted Federation of Irrigators’ Associations in Negros Occidental (LEGAFIANO), said the project is anchored on the government’s initiative in helping local farmers generate more income.