N.Mindanao corn farmers get assistance

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao has granted post-production assistance to some 10,000 corn farmers in the town of Dangcagan one of the corn-producing areas in the province of Bukidnon.

Jose Apollo Pacamalan, Northern Mindanao Department of Agriculture director, said that through its Corn Program, P4.65-million worth of agricultural interventions to the Local Government Unit of Barangay Poblacion, Dangcagan were turned over on Monday.

The package of assistance includes a hauling truck amounting to P2.57 million and a corn harvester valued at P2.08 million, aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity in local corn farming.

Constancio Genilla Jr., Dangcagan municipal agricultural officer, said the aid will primarily serve corn-producing areas across 14 barangays, covering 3,000 hectares, with over 10,000 corn farmers, notably from barangays Miaray, Kianggat, San Vicente, Dolorosa and Darongcot.

“This will be a great help, especially now that our labor force in agriculture is decreasing. The harvester is very easy to use, and the hauling truck will carry the harvested crops to drying facilities. This gives convenience to our farmer sparing them the trouble of finding transport.”

The municipal officer further ensured that the LGU Dangcagan, Office of the Municipal Agriculture, will help sustain the operability of the given agri interventions.

He said to sustain these services, “We will collect a minimal fee from farmers, which will be used for maintenance and repairs, since machinery will inevitably wear out. These funds will help keep the services running.”

Danny Boy G. Pepito, a farmer-member of Kianggat Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative, expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided.