The provincial government of South Cotabato has received around PHP6.9 million worth of farm machinery and equipment under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) farm mechanization program.

Raul Teves, head of the South Cotabato Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (Opag), said Tuesday the machinery were part of the assistance package earlier committed by the agency to the province to boost its food security initiatives amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 pandemic.

He said these were formally turned over by DA-12 officials on Monday in a gathering at the Provincial Scion Grove, Nursery, and Demonstration Farm in Barangay Reyes, Banga town.

A report released by Opag said it received some PHP6.39 million worth of machinery and equipment under the rice program and PHP511,191 more under the high-value crops development program.

These comprise 10 units of hand tractors worth PHP1.35 million; 10 rice threshers worth PHP1.285 million; 20 units of seed spreaders worth PHP1.436 million; six shallow tube wells worth PHP619,864; 10 rice transplanters worth PHP1.9 million; 50 units of garden tools worth PHP250,000; and 10 rolls of high-density polyethylene pipes worth PHP61,000.

Teves said his office will put up a motor pool at the demonstration farm in Banga for the farm machinery provided by DA.

“Farmers can avail of these upon request free of charge, including fuel,” he said in a report.

He said accredited farmers’ associations may avail of some of the machinery and equipment upon proper validation as part of the program’s rollout.

Teves said DA-12, through its regional executive director Arlan Mangelen, committed to providing additional post-harvest facilities in the province, especially for the demonstration farm. (PNA)