Butuan city: The Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) has allocated over PHP72 million worth of farm machinery and equipment to rice and corn farmers' organizations and cooperatives across four provinces in the region. This initiative aims to bolster agricultural productivity and support local farmers with enhanced resources.

According to Philippines News Agency, approximately PHP53.5 million of the total allocation had been disbursed to beneficiaries during a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing held on Tuesday afternoon. DA-13 Director Arlan Mangelen highlighted in an interview on Wednesday that the distribution is part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the agency's Corn program.

The remaining farm machinery is set to be distributed in the upcoming weeks, following the completion of MOAs between DA-13 and the recipient organizations. On Tuesday, four associations from Agusan del Norte received farm machinery worth PHP8.2 million; eight associations from Agusan del Sur received PHP21.5 million; six groups from Surigao del Sur received PHP14.2 million; and six from Surigao del Norte received PHP9.5 million.

The equipment provided includes 10 four-wheel drive tractors, seven corn combine harvesters, two rice combine harvesters, three multi-commodity threshers, four bubble dryers, three greenhouses with hydroponics, seven power sprayers, and two hauling trucks. Additionally, each group from the corn sector received specialized machinery such as a soybean sorter, corn recirculating dryer, corn husker-sheller, and more.