Thousands of farmers in the Caraga Region received PHP69 million worth of livelihood assistance, machinery, and livestock support from the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday.

A total of 41 farmer associations and cooperatives, comprising rice and corn farmers, livestock raisers, and high-value crop producers, benefitted from these forms of assistance during simultaneous distribution activities held in celebration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 67th birthday.

The breakdown of aid includes PHP28.6 million for 15 associations in Agusan del Norte, PHP14.4 million for nine associations in Agusan del Sur, PHP1.5 million for three groups in Dinagat Islands, PHP5.9 million for five cooperatives in Surigao del Norte, and PHP18.6 million for nine organizations in Surigao del Sur.

The distributed equipment included farm tractors, hauling trucks, combine harvesters, corn shellers, rice threshers, seed and soybean sorters, floating tillers, multicommodity threshers, and chest freezers.

Las Nieves farmer-beneficiaries

In Las Nieves, Agusan Del Norte, DA-13 (Caraga) executive director Arlan Mangelen and Mayor Karen Rosales led the turnover of interventions to 11 farmers’ associations and cooperatives, representing a total allocation of PHP23.1 million for 528 members in the town.

“This distribution of interventions is a collaborative effort with other government agencies and the provincial and municipal governments of Agusan del Norte and Las Nieves,” Mangelen said during the event.

He emphasized that addressing poverty and other pressing community issues requires a unified approach from all stakeholders, including government and private sectors.

Rosales thanked the Marcos administration for its support of the town’s farmers, noting that the assistance was a result of the proactive efforts of the local farmers’ associations and cooperatives.

Grateful farmers

Ruel Torralba, president of the Malungtarong Wes Las Nieves Corn Cluster Farmers’ Association, acknowledged the positive impact of the combined corn harvester his group received.

“This equipment will help expedite the harvesting process, save us time, and ensure that our corn products are market-ready,” he said, representing his 73-member group, which manages 215 hectares of corn farms in the western part of the town. (PNA)