An agriculture cooperative in Antique province is a recipient of over PHP14.9 million worth of facility and machinery from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to assist corn farmers in the municipality of Patnongon and neighboring towns.
DA Agricultural Program Coordinating Office Antique head Sonie Guanco said the support, in the form of a grant under the corn program, consisted of a warehouse facility and machinery, including a bagger sewer, digital weighing scale, corn combine harvester, and hauling truck released to Kalipunan ng mga Magsasaka ng Patnongon (KAMAPAT) Agriculture Cooperative on Tuesday.
It was realized through the support of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Patnongon, the second-largest corn area in the province, with about 2,500 hectares planted with the commodity.
As a corn consolidator, KAMAPAT buys corn kernels produced by local farmers at a price higher than the prevailing market price of PHP11 per kg.
“With the warehouse, corn farmers could also use for storage the facility,” Guanco said in an interview on Wednesday.
The warehouse in Barangay San Rafael, Patnongon, where the KAMAPAT has a 25-year usufruct for the use of the lot.
“Aside from the lot for the establishment of the warehouse as the counterpart of the KAMAPAT, it will also take charge of the maintenance of the facility and the machinery,” Guanco said.
KAMAPAT, which has around 800 corn farmer-members, will have to come up with a policy on the storage fee when using the warehouse and how to use the machinery to boost their production and improve their livelihood. (PNA)
