President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government will enhance its support for the agricultural sector to increase production and improve income.
President Marcos renewed his commitment when he inaugurated the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC) Grains Terminal and Trading Project, a PhP278.3-million grains facility in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City, on Thursday.
“Lagi po ninyong tandaan na kami sa pamahalaan ay walang tigil sa pagbibigay ng suporta sa inyong mga pangangailangan upang mapabuti ang sektor – mapabuti, mapatibay, mapalakas, at mapalaki ang sektor ng agrikultura,” the President said.
The President ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to coordinate with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to strengthen the farmers’ cooperatives.
“Kaya inatasan ko ang DA na makipag-ugnayan sa CDA, Cooperative Development Authority, para patibayin, palakasin ang mga kooperatiba ng ating mga magsasaka,” the President said.
He said that, like the SIDC, other cooperatives will also receive government help to acquire new machinery and post-harvest facilities to increase their harvests and income.
“Tinitiyak po natin sa inyo na gagawin namin ang lahat upang matupad ang mga ito,” he added.
President Marcos said the goal of helping out and giving more opportunities to the farmers will be achieved with the government and private sector joining forces.
He bared the government plans to raise funds for the purchase of dryers, silos, warehouses, rice and corn mills, as well as other equipment for the agriculture sector.
He said that purchasing these facilities and improving the systems would lessen the wastage of rice and corn, lower food prices, and make farmers more productive.
The government will also speed up irrigation and water pumping station projects and expand the programs that will improve and increase production through more effective and advanced technology.
The President said that with the help of the DA and World Bank, the SIDC established the PhP278.3-million facility. The feed mill facility has two silos with a total capacity of milling 12,000 metric tons of corn, equivalent to producing 480,000 sacks of food for 107,000 hogs or 597,758 poultry. |PND
