President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lauded South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr for coming up with the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program which is anchored on the administrations’ agenda that will help achieve food security in the country.
“Mahalaga ang programang ito, dahil ito ay maliit na bahagi kung ano ang ginagawa natin sa buong bansa,” President Marcos said during the launching program held at Brgy. Linaway , Banga yesterday.
The Php655.83 million worth of program which is to be constructed at the sprawling 4.1 -hectare land aims to create an organized, efficient rice production and marketing system that will enhance production, improve grain quality.
It also plans to achieve global competitiveness through climate resiliency, sound agricultural practice, low cost production, efficient farm mechanization and value added approach.
The facility will be built complete with a motorpool, a warehouse, rice mill, shed house for machinery, rice mill, silo and mechanical dryer and a truck scale.
“ Ito ang pinakaunang programa na pinagbuo ang mga magsasaka. Sa pamamagitan ng consolidation, tataas ang ani, bababa ang labor cost at garantisado ang kita.” President Marcos said,
Governor Tamayo expressed his gratitude to the president for coming over to grace the occasion.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa pangulo sa kanyang pagdalo at sa kanyang sakripisyo upang makapunta sa pagtitipong ito. “ Governor Tamayo said,
Part of the program is also the turn-over of the Php115.3 million worth of national government support to Governor Tamayo . These consist of Php52.5 million from the National Rice Program which include Php18M for construction of a warehouse; Php5M for hauling truck component of RPC II; 1,350 bags of wet and dry season hybrid seeds valued at Php6.75M; and 6,750 bags of fertilizer component of wet and dry season hybrid seeds worth Php22.78M.
With the mission to help empower agriculture sector through consolidated farming and mechanization to become a food secure province, the project envisions to increase average farmer’s annual income per hectare fromPhp20,000 to Php41,565.37 or a total incremental income of Php21,565.37.
There are at least 933 farmers involved in the project covering 1,400 hectares all over the province. To date, at least 200 hectares are being piloted at Brgy. Dajay at Surallah town.
