JORDAN – Farmers of the Municipality of Nueva Valencia received a P1.6 million worth of combine harvester with a trailer from the Provincial Government of Guimaras.
The turn-over ceremony was held at the covered gym of Barangay Salvacion in Nueva Valencia with Governor Samuel Gumarin and provincial agriculturist Ronnie Morante gracing the event.
The recipient of the equipment is the Salvacion Cluster Farmers Association with 150 members.
Gumarin said the assistance will mitigate the impact of post-harvest losses to the farmers of Nueva Valencia.
“Ang LGU (local government unit) nagatinguha nga mahatagan ang iya pumuluyo sang mga tools nga mapahagan-hagan ang impact sang post-harvest losses sa mga farmers,” said Gumarin.
The governor stressed the crucial role that agriculture and farmers play for every Filipino to have food on their table.
“Ang duta, ang farmers amo ang nagapakaon sa aton,” he said.
For Gumarin, the agriculture sector was left behind due to the rapid development of technology. He also said the distribution of post-harvest facilities to the farmers in the province is part of the provincial government’s goal for the farmers to shift to mechanized farming.
Meanwhile, Morante said having a harvester will reduce the labor cost of farmers and can even be an income-generating tool for farmers in Nueva Valencia. He also explained that Barangay Salvacion was chosen as the recipient because the barangay is the rice granary of the town.
Of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries according to Morante, only the Philippines and Indonesia use thresher while progressive countries use harvester.
Village chief Marilou Delumpa assured the provincial government that they will take care of the equipment.
“Rest assured halungan gid namon ang equipment and makabulig gid ini sa amon mga farmers and neighboring farmers,” Delumpa said.
Gumarin also promised to give farm tractors to the farmers of Nueva Valencia.Guimaras Provincial Government/PN
