Ang Pahayagan

MUNOZ CITY– A group of rice farmers organized by the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion in Nueva Ecija town received a rice-harvesting machine worth Php1.8 million from the Department of Agriculture on Thursday, December 7, 2023 held at the covered court, PhilMec, Science City of Munoz.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Jr., commander of 91st IB said that the one unit of combined harvester machine was given to Marcos Flores, President of Olivete Farmers Association together with 1st Lieutenant Jevie J. Sagragao, executive officer of Alpha Company during the provincial turn-over/awarding of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization program.

He added that the turned-over was headed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Recto said that the rice farmers in the Barangay Olivete in the town of Bongabon will no longer worry about harvest losses due to the delays in harvesting their crop because of mechanization, pointing-out that through the award, the farmers will boost their income.

“This will also reduce their harvesting costs and will increase their income. This would also address the labor shortage during harvest season, generate more income and generate more savings from harvesting costs for the members,” he said.

Agriculture Secretary Laurel said that Nueva Ecija is considered the main rice growing province of the country, thus it is often referred to as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”.

“I am happy to be with the Nueva Ecija farmers who always give us food, the country’s top producer of palay in our country. With that our government are doing its best to help our farmers to attain high yields. Your support to the government programs is unsurmountable; hence, all things go back and added unto you,” he said.

Meanwhile, Olivete Farmers Association President Flores expressed his sincerest thanks to 91st IB, department of agriculture, local government units, Nueva Ecija provincial government, PHILMECH among others for the big blessing they received.

“Our sincerest thanks to 91st IB for always taking care of us towards the realization of this farm equipment,” he said.

Also present during the turn-over are other farmer’s associations and cooperatives who also recipients of the RCEF Mechanization Program. (Jason de Asis)