In a bid to reduce post-harvest losses, the Provincial Government of Guimaras turned over PHP1.6-million of combine harvester with trailer to the farmers of the Municipality of Nueva Valencia.
Governor Samuel T. Gumarin and Provincial Agriculturist Ronnie Morante graced the turned over ceremony held at the covered gym of Barangay Salvacion in Nueva Valencia on February 19, 2021.
The recipient of the equipment is the Salvacion Cluster Farmers Association with around 150 members.
Gumarin said that the assistance will mitigate the impact of post-harvest losses to the farmers of Nueva Valencia.
“Ang LGU nagatinguha nga mahatagan ang iya pumuluyo sang mga tools nga mapahagan-hagan ang impact sang post-harvest losses sa mga farmers,” Gumarin said.
The governor underscored the crucial role that agriculture and farmers play for every Filipino to have food on their table.
“Ang duta, ang farmers amo ang nagapakaon sa aton,” he said.
With the rapid development of technology, agriculture was left behind, according to Gumarin.
Gumarin said that the distribution of post-harvest facilities to the farmers in the province is part of the Provincial Government’s goal to shift to mechanized farming.
Among ASEAN countries, only the Philippines and Indonesia use threshers while progressive countries use harvesters according to Morante.
Morante said having a harvester will reduce the labor cost of farmers and can even be an income generating tool for farmers in Nueva Valencia.
“Makabulig ini sa kakulangon sa labor naton sa pag-ani. Makabulig ini sa aton nga pagpanguma kag maka-generate man sang income kun aton ma-manage,” Morante said.
He explained that Barangay Salvacion was chosen as the recipient of the equipment as the village is considered to be the rice granary of the town.
Salvacion Punong Barangay Marilou Delumpa assured the Provincial Government that they will take care of the equipment which is a big help to their famers.
“Rest assured halungan gid namon ang equipment and makabulig gid ini sa amon mga farmers and neighboring farmers,” Delumpa said.
The governor also promised to give farm tractor to the farmers of Nueva Valencia.
