Camarines sur: A total of 985 farmers in Camarines Sur received cash aid and modern agricultural machinery from the Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier this week. In a media release Wednesday, the DA-5 said at least 627 registered rice farmers, under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, each received PHP7,000 in financial aid to enhance farm productivity and sustainability through the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program.
According to Philippines News Agency, a total of PHP4.38 million was distributed among the farmers. Three farmers’ associations, consisting of 203 members, received modern farming machinery. The equipment included a combine harvester for the Sto. Ni±o Ocampo Farmers Association in Ocampo, a four-wheel-drive tractor for the Bigaas Corn Cluster Association in Calabanga, and a forage chopper for the Kilomaon Integrated Farmers Association in Sag±ay.
Two four-wheel-drive tractors were delivered to the provincial government of Camarines Sur and the San Antonio Cagbunga Agriculture Cooperative. The Catanusan Farmer Agriculture Cooperative and the San Roque Danawan Farmers Association received a rice combine harvester and a four-wheel-drive tractor from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). The assistance is expected to benefit 122 cooperative members and other farmers throughout the province.
A check worth PHP300,000 was also issued to support a three-hectare High-Yielding Variety Nursery Rapid Propagation Project led by the Sugar Regulatory Administration. The project is set to benefit 33 members of the Sto. Ni±o Small Farmers Association in Pili, Camarines Sur.
