Bontoc farmers’ group receive DA tractor

By Alpine L. Killa- Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province - An association of farmers in Barangay Bontoc Ili here received a hand tractor with complete accessories Oct 23 at capitol grounds.
    The Amkinak-Cafellaw Irrigators Association, a Civic Society Organization  registered under the Dept. of Agriculture with 42 members received the farm machinery.
    Municipal government assistant department head Catherine Agcon of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist said the hand tractor with accessories was funded by the DA.
    As its counterpart, the Bontoc local government Unit shouldered hauling of the farm machinery from Baguio City to Bontoc.
    Aside from this, the OMAg provided technical assistance to the ACIA in preparation of the proposal and documents.
    Agcon said the assistance aimed to reduce production cost of rice farmers so they can save up some for savings and farm needs.
    She added the machinery, given by the government for free, was meant to make the farmers’ lives more convenient, work will be faster, and more gain compared to manual or traditional ways of farming.
    Mayor Jerome "Chagsen" Tudlong, Jr., who led the turnover of the farm equipment to the recipients expressed gratitude to the DA for its continuous support to the farmers in the locality.
    The mayor said with meager budget of Bontoc LGU, it has to seek support from the national government and other stakeholders to address crucial needs of its constituents.
    He said realization of the said undertaking signified strong partnership and collaboration between the DA and the Bontoc LGU in continuously empowering the community through the provision of various assistance.
    Tudlong urged farmers and fisherfolks in other barangays to strengthen their associations or cooperatives.
    “You need to organize yourselves for institutional development for farmers and fisherfolk for easy lobbying of assistance and support from the government,” he added.
    Other officials present during the turnover were Sangguniang Bayan member Benedict Odsey II and Municipal Agriculturist Renato Falag-ey.