Several farmers’ associations across Bicol have received PHP31.73 million worth of farm machinery under the rice and corn programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) office in Region 5.

Lovella Guarin, DA-5 information officer, on Thursday said the distribution of the machinery is part of the agency’s modernization program.

“Together with our regional executive director Rodel Tornilla, distribution of farm pieces of equipment was conducted last Sept. 8, 9, and 13 in Pili, Camarines Sur. Beneficiaries were groups of farmers in Camarines Norte, associations and cooperatives in Camarines Sur,” she said.

Distributed were three units of four-wheel drive tractors, three combine harvesters, one precision planter or seeder, two walk-behind type transplanters, one hauling track, a four-wheel drive tractor for corn, and a four-wheel drive tractor for cassava.

In a statement, DA-Bicol Regional Rice Focal Person Earl Vincent P. Vegas said the use of these types of machinery will help the farmers lower the cost of production.

“Ang ating ini-estimate ay sa bawat pagbaba ng cost of production, yan po ay karagdagang kita sa bawat magsasaka ng palay dito sa Bicol (The estimated decrease in the production cost will mean added income for every rice farmer here in Bicol),” he said. (PNA)