Some four farmers’ organizations in the town of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur received much-needed farm support from the Department of Agriculture in Caraga (DA-13) through the release of various types of farm machinery.

In a statement Thursday, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Cantilan said the farm machinery will help the members of the four organizations improve their yields and production.

DA-13 technical director Nicandro Navia Jr., Surigao del Sur provincial agriculturist Marcos Quico, and Cantilan MAO chief Caesar Blanco led the distribution of the farm machinery worth around PHP15.56 million to the farmers’ organization in a ceremony on Wednesday.

“The organizations that received their farm machinery include the Tupedo Irrigators Association, the Palasao Irrigators Association, Palasao Agriculture Cooperative, and the Tublihon Farmers Irrigators Association,” the MAO stated.

The Tupedo Irrigators Association received one unit of four-wheel-drive tractor, rice combine harvester, hand tractor, and floating tiller while the Palasao Irrigators Association also got one four-wheel-drive tractor, rice combine harvester, riding-type mechanical rice transplanter, two hand tractors, and three floating tillers.

The MAO also reported that the Palasao Agriculture Cooperative was given one rice precision seeder, two hand tractors, and two floating tillers, while the Tublihon Farmers Irrigators Association got a unit of four-wheel-drive tractor, rice combine harvester, and riding-type mechanical rice transplanter.

“The various types of farm machinery were funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of the Department of Agriculture. The local government unit of Cantilan, through Mayor Carla Lopez-Pichay is thankful to the DA-13 for the support provided to the farmers,” it added. (PNA)