City gets machines, carabaos from DA

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture has given brand new machineries and draft carabaos worth almost P600,000 to improve the livelihood of the farmers not only in Cebu City but in the entire province.

City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon said that three brand new hand tractors and 20 draft carabaos were given during the recent visit of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala that were distributed to the 53 associations in Cebu City.

Emilio Secretaria, the president of Maraag Sudlon II Farmers Association, was among the one of the recipients of hand tractor while Barangay Sinsin also received one of the carabaos.

Baclayon said that they are also helping the farmers to become entrepreneurs and to do all transactions without the middlemen.

According to Baclayon they made alternative marketing services as avenue to train the farmers like maintaining the 15 satellite markets in barangays of  Sambag, Apas, Mabolo, Mambaling, Sta. Cruz, Quiot, Kasambagan, San Roque, Tejero, Lorega, Barrio Luz, Talamban, and other areas where the farmers can directly sell their products.

He said that they also established regular “Tugbong Tabo” at City Hall ground and conducted two agro-fairs during the Charter Anniversary.

“For six months we had numerous accomplishments in livestock and poultry production, urban agriculture, institutional development services, rural and urban reforestation, nursery production and crop extension services,” said Baclayon.

Part of their accomplishments were 13 season-long trainings out of the 15 annual target of City Agriculture Department (CAD) conducted along with techno-demo establishment on vegetables and other organic fruits at different hillyland barangays.

There were 1,750 farmers technically assisted out of 2,400 farmer beneficiaries on swine production at Barangay Taptap, basic dairy husbandry in Barangay Lusaran and cattle care and management in Barangay Tagbao.

“Ang pag train sa mga out of school youth ang usa pud sa programa sa CAD aron matudloan ang kabatan-onan sa saktong pagtanom ug uban pa sa agricultural livelihood trainings,” said Baclayon.

Baclayon said that aside from promoting and enhancing the ways of livelihood of the farmers, they are also tapping the private sectors to donate computers in the hilly barangays to help the children of the farmers to attain a better education.

“Holistic ang CAD, dili ra pagpalambo sa agriculture kundi pagpalambo usab sa future sa mga anak sa mga farmers,” Baclayon added. —/GMR (FREEMAN)