Two farmers' associations in the town of Romblon, Romblon, recently received agricultural machinery from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) MIMAROPA region, amounting to P1.12 million, to address labor shortages in the island town.
According to DOLE Romblon Provincial Director Philip Ruga, the agency awarded P520,000 worth of one unit of rice reaper and one unit of thresher to the Mapula Farmers Association, benefiting 32 members.
Meanwhile, the Macalas-Tambac-Ilauran-Lamao-Calabogo-Agbaluto (MTILCA) Farmers Association, with 52 members, received two units of multifunction tillers amounting to P600,000.00.
The machinery was awarded under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, which aims to support farmers by providing modern equipment to improve efficiency and productivity.
Farmers can use the machinery to offer rental services to other farmers, such as land preparation and post-harvest operations, replacing manual tillage and harvesting methods.
“The assistance aims to boost modernization in agriculture, earn more income for their future business endeavors, and help high-value crops and rice farmers lessen their production costs,” DOLE Romblon stated. (PR)
