FARM EQUIPMENT. Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo (center) and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres (2nd from left) lead officials during the turn-over of the P4.2 million worth of farm machinery and livelihood projects at the City Agriculture Office in Barangay Balingasag on Thursday (December 13, 2018). (Photo courtesy of the City of Bago)
BACOLOD CITY -- The City of Bago in Negros Occidental distributed PHP4.2-million worth of farm equipment and livelihood to 14 associations on Thursday.
The turn-over ceremony was led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and City Agriculturist Carlito Indencia at the City Agriculture Office in Barangay Balingasag.
Yulo said the city government recognizes the need to assist the farmers to attain rice industry development. “The distribution of farm machinery has contributed to the improvement (of rice yield),” the mayor said.
As of November, this year, Bago City’s average rice yield was pegged at 4.4 metric tons per hectare, higher than the 4.1 metric tons per hectare in 2017.
“By boosting our production, we can also contribute to increasing the province’s rice sufficiency level and ensuring food security,” Yulo added.
Dubbed the rice granary of Negros Occidental, Bago City’s contribution to the province’s total rice production is about 19 percent.
Farm machinery units, including a hand tractor, two thresher, one multi-tilling machine, three rice planting machines, and five pumps with engines, were distributed to 10 farmers association-recipients.
These included the Punta Playa Multi-Purpose Association, Mailum Organic Village Association, Barangay Napoles Women Association for Rural Improvement, Fermina Small Water Impounding System Association, Bago Integrated Farmers Association, Small Farmers Association of Abuanan, Dulao and Antipuluan, Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers Association, Barangay Malingin Farmers Association, Association of Rice Farmers of Tabunan, and Sagasa Women’s Group.
They also received livelihood projects like "balut" (fertilized duck eggs) making, food processing, salted egg making, and mushroom production.
Four fisherfolk associations, including Taloc Baybay Fisherfolk Association, Calubay Anahaw Small Fishermen Association, Can-itum Integrated Fisherfolk Association, and Barangay Calumangan Integrated Fisherfolk Association, were provided alternative livelihood projects such as fish vending, rag making as well as cooking equipment and facilities.
Indencia said the machinery and livelihood projects are funded by the city government through its Agriculture Development Program.
“The program covers the city’s measure to develop its rice and fishery sectors,” he said, adding that it also aims to provide farmers and fisherfolk alternative sources of income through the livelihood development component. (PNA)
