Tapaz IPs receive farm machineries

THE Indigenous People (IP) of Tapaz, Capiz received a P253,000 worth of farm machineries from the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas (DA-WV) and the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) 6.

The ceremonial turnover was held at Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research (WESVIARC), Jaro, Iloilo City on Feb 1, 2019.

“These machineries will open many opportunities for us IPs and farmers,” said Brgy. Agpapali IP Leader Jenito C. Macahilo. He also added that the IP community is very eager to learn and understand more about the various advantages of using modern technologies in farming.

“We have the skills in farming but we lack knowledge on how to use and operate these machineries,” added Macahilo.

Around 100 IPs of Barangay Agpapali Tapaz Indigenous People’s Farmers Association (BATIPFA) will benefit the rice reaper and pump and engine set which cost P 149, 937.00 and P 85, 000.00, respectively.

“The machineries will greatly diversify the rice and corn production of BATIPFA,” said Macahilo. He further discussed that aside from rice and corn, banana and fiber plantation are also the sources of livelihood of the IPs in the area.

Meanwhile, DA-WV’s Local Operation Management Service (LOMS) Chief Carmelita Fantilanan said that for the year 2019, the IPs will be one of the priority sectors. “We will be preparing different projects and activities for the indigenous people of Western Visayas. Part of this is their exposure to various modern agri-technologies and other interventions,” she added.

“Organizing them as a Farm Service Provider (FSP) will increase part of their income generating activity and strengthen their sense of ownership of the machineries entrusted to their association,” said Fantilanan. A rental fee will be charge to the non-members of BATIPFA while farmer-members will be availing a discount for every use of the machineries.

Constant monitoring will be conducted by the DA-WV in order to evaluate the impact of the projects and interventions to the IP community.

Also present in the ceremonial turnover were DA-WV Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter, NCIP 6 Director Ana N. Burgos and NCIP-Capiz Community Service Center representative Rubie A. Capada. (J. C. Velario/DA-RAFIS-6)