The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed shallow tube wells to 20 farmers’ cooperatives and associations in this province on Monday.

Governor Dennis Pineda said on Tuesday the move was in response to his request to the DA to help farmers boost their productivity with an ample supply of water even during the dry season through the use of shallow tube wells.

“Sa akin pong request, nagbigay po ang Department of Agriculture ng pumps gamit ang shallow tube wells sa 20 farmers associations at cooperatives. Mga lupang tinatamnan ng bigas ang patutubigan ng mga nasabing pumps (With my request, the Department of Agriculture has provided pumps with the use of shallow tube wells to the 20 farmers associations and cooperatives),” Pineda said in a social media post.

Each farmers’ cooperative/association received one unit of shallow tube well.

The governor said the provincial government is trying its best to give additional support to the farmers in a bid to ensure enough food supply in the province.

Maria Antonette Muli, chief of the Agricultural Engineering Division of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), said there will be another batch of farmers who will likewise receive shallow tube wells.

“Ito pong mga shallow tube well na ito ay para sa mga marginalized farmer na may rice area, ‘yan po ay ginagamit para sa patubig (The shallow tube wells are for marginalized farmers with rice area. This is being used for irrigation),” Muli said.

For his part, Edgar Roque, president of the Prado Siongco Rice and Corn Farmers Cooperative, thanked the DA and the provincial government of Pampanga for the assistance.

“Napakalaking tulong po ito sa mga farmers dito dahil halos lahat ng mga makina ng mga magsasaka dito sa amin ay old model na at kailangan nang mapalitan. Kaya, napakalaking tulong po ito (This is a big help to the farmers here because almost all the machineries of the farmers here are old model and need to be replaced. Thus, this is a big help),” Roque said. (PNA)