Farmers from Nueva Ecija envision a brighter future with the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Php63.9 million Rice Processing System (RPS) and the distribution of various farm machinery units by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last Monday.
Armi Santos, 54, from the City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, said rice farmers like her expect to produce better yields, which translate to better income.
“Masaya po kami sa magiging benepisyo. Magiging magaan po ang trabaho para sa amin. Halimbawa, kung magpapagiling kami ng bigas, kung may dryer, hindi na kami magbibilad. Mas gagaan ang pagpapagiling namin. Mas dadali ang pagbebenta,” Santos said in an interview.
“Mas magiging maunlad po kami. Hindi na kami mahihirapang magbilad sa kalsada. Mas maganda ang kalidad ng bigas. Thank you, President BBM sa ipinagkaloob n’yo sa amin. Ito’y malaking biyaya sa amin. Maraming salamat po,” Santos said.
The Rice Processing System (RPS) comprises a one-unit, multi-stage rice mill and two units of mechanical dryers, which will significantly reduce post-harvest losses.
Some 6,000 farmers from the City of Muñoz, collectively managing a total area of 9,200 hectares of rice fields, will directly benefit from the RPS.
Improved palay production
Cecilia Quibrantos, chairperson of the Balangay of San Francisco Farmers’ Association in Llanera, Nueva Ecija, also has a similar message for the President.
Quibrantos said that with the PhP31.12 million worth of farm machinery and equipment handed over by the President, she expects significantly improved palay production and a higher income for farmers.
She said their farmers’ association, which has been operating for three years, has 130 members who cultivate a total of 200 hectares of farmland.
Among the farm implements that President Marcos distributed were 16 units of rice combine harvesters worth PhP27.7 million; a unit of four-wheel tractor, PhP2.9 million; and a cultivator, PhP380,000.
“Napakalaking pakinabang po niyan. Ang una pong makikinabang diyan ay ‘yun pong mga maliliit pong magsasaka. Malaking tulong po sa pag-aani po ng aming mga palayan,” Quibrantos said.
Quibrantos said farmers currently lease a rice combine harvester, which takes a significant percentage of their income.
“Magkakaroon din po kami ng upa dito, pero hindi po kasing laki ng dati naming ginagamit na harvester. Mas makakatipid po ang magsasaka, tataas po ang ani, tataas po ang kita,” Quibrantos said.
“Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa Pangulo sa pagbibigay po ng harvester sa amin. Ito po’y malaking tulong sa aming mga magsasaka. Lalo pong lalaki ang kita namin. Kumbaga unti-unti po kaming makakahon dahil malaking bagay po itong harvester. Marami pong salamat, Presidente Marcos,” Quibrantos said. | PND
