Farmers in Anilao, Iloilo, have received a significant boost in their agricultural operations following the delivery of essential farming machinery from the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
The San Juan Crisistimo, Sto. Rosario, Serallo, Medina, Badiang, and Agbatuan Irrigators Association (SANTO SEMEBA IA) was the beneficiary of a mechanical rice transplanter and a four-wheel-drive farm tractor, which will support the cultivation of approximately 226 hectares of farmland.
The machinery was officially handed over to the SANTO SEMEBA IA, represented by its president, Anita A. De Asis.
The turnover ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including Ruth Cely Jamelo, Division Manager for Institutional Development of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II); Ivy Rose Doplayna, Irrigators Association Services Section Chief; and representatives from the local government unit of Anilao.
“This equipment will greatly improve the efficiency and productivity of our farmers, reducing the labor and time required for planting and other farm operations,” De Asis said during the ceremony.
The SANTO SEMEBA IA, one of 41 new Irrigators Associations organized by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) under the JRMP II, will now be better equipped to manage their agricultural activities, benefiting a total of 126 farmer members.
PhilMech’s initiative is part of a broader effort by the Department of Agriculture to enhance mechanization in the country’s farming sector, aimed at improving crop yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and increasing the overall competitiveness of local farmers.
These advancements are particularly significant for farmers in rural areas like Anilao, where access to modern farming technology has historically been limited.
With the introduction of such machinery, local farmers are expected to achieve higher productivity and income, contributing to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in Iloilo.
