KOICA, FAO hand-over agri-machinery worth over PHP 12 million to Cotabato-based farmer organizations
The machinery and equipment are intended to promote mechanization of farm production in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of smallholder farmers, and contribute to better incomes and livelihoods.
The Korean Government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), turned over to five farmer organizations of five barangays in Kabacan Municipality, Cotabato some USD 224,346, or more than PHP 12 million, worth of farm machinery and post-harvest equipment on Thursday, February 2, to promote farm mechanization among the organizations’ 942 combined farmer-members.
The hand-over ceremony, which was held at the Kabacan Municipal Government Center, was led by KOICA-Philippines Country Director Kim Eunsub, Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza, Mayor Evangeline Guzman of Kabacan, and Dante Eleuterio, head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)-Philippines’ Mindanao sub-Office.
Distributed were four stationery rice mills, two combine harvesters, three farm tractors with trailers and farm implements. In his address at the hand-over event, KOICA Country Director Kim said that the Korean Government and KOICA would always support initiatives towards the enhancement of the socio-economic well-being of Filipino farmers and contribute to the attainment of sustainable peace and development and inclusive growth in Mindanao.
Recipient organizations were the Kilagasan Poblacion Magatos Irrigators Association that received one unit of combine harvester, a 4WD tractor w/ implements and front loader, and one unit village-type stationary rice mill; (2) the Liton-Kibales-Magatos Irrigators Association, which also got one unit of combine harvester, a 4WD tractor w/ implements and front loader, and one unit village-type stationary rice mill; (3) the Osias SN Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which received one unit village-type stationary rice mill; (4) the Dagupan ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which similarly got one unit village-type stationary rice mill; and (5) the Kabacan Agri-Resources, which got a 4WD tractor with front loader.
The provision of the farm machinery and post-harvest equipment is part of the “Support to Agriculture and Agribusiness Enterprises in Mindanao for Sustainable Development" project, an initiative being implemented by FAO with funding support from KOICA. This USD 5.8 million project supports 42 community-based organizations in the two target provinces of Cotabato and Maguindanao by providing access to farm production inputs, improving agricultural mechanization to fully integrate farmers into agricultural value chains, and a comprehensive capacity building intervention on agri-entrepreneurship and resilient livelihoods. It is expected to benefit 10,740 farming households, or 53,700 individuals.
Raising the levels of farm mechanization in agricultural communities is a priority focus of KOICA and FAO to support government efforts in improving agriculture production methods, increasing farm productivity and efficiency, and enhancing food security measures to address hunger in the country.