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PILAR.
Agriculture Sec. Arthur C. Yap urged Bohol farmers belonging
to irrigators associations to increase their incomes and profit
from their rice produce.
The
secretary noted that farmers are always at the losing end
since they are not the direct beneficiaries of their produce
but the middlemen, who always take advantage of the former.
Yap,
who is a Boholano by affinity met with some 22 irrigators
associations of this town and neighboring towns during a Farmers
Forum last week, said there is a need to improve the lot of
the farmers because of the prevalent farmer-middlemen-consumer
situation. He said he wanted to reverse the situation that
farmers should be the direct seller to the consumers.
But
this could not be eliminated without farmers helping themselves
like application of the new and appropriate technology in
planting and other post-harvest facilities needed to make
a profit. The farmers should be the ones to identify what
they really want, he added.
Giving
emphasis on consultation process, he said it's back to work
again after the recent polls upon the instruction of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to see for himself the situation of
the farmers in the country-sides and talk to them.
By
increasing their incomes and profit, the government can come
in by providing infrastructure support and extension support
services now devolved to the local government units, he stressed.
He also urged LGUs to do their homework as well so that together
they help the farmers, who are said to be the backbone of
the nation.
Agriculture
contributes the biggest chunk (20%) to the gross domestic
product wherein some 30 million Filipinos are dependent on
it.
He
said that he is happy to roam around because the government
has more funds to provide infrastructure support to the farmers
as a result of vigorous tax collection, such as increased
Value-added tax, undertaken by Arroyo administration. Otherwise,
he would not be wasting his precious time holding dialogue
with farmers without these funds.
He
said the Arroyo administration is willing to provide post
harvest facilities such as the flat-bed dryers to enable the
farmers sell their produce at a good price especially during
wet season. He learned from the farmers that the price of
palay is measly P6.00 per kilo during wet season but this
could be increased up to P10.00 to P14/kilo if farmers would
be able to dry their produce.
He
was told that the Bohol Farmers Cooperative has already a
unit of this facility.
He
said the government wanted to provide the flat-bed dryers
to each of the 22 irrigators associations (IA) as long as
the requirements are met. These (requirements) are the registration
of IAs with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
a Resolution requesting for the said dryer, stating specific
area or lot where this dryer to be erected, and a certification
from NIA clearing IAs obligations. Also, a lot measuring 700
to 1,000 square meters is needed for a warehouse.
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He
said that the flat-bed dryer, using crude oil fuel at
a rate of one liter per hour, can dry up to 120 cavans
of palay for six hours. Other advantage of the dryer
is that rice hulls and stalks can be used for soil conditioners,
he said.
The
secretary was welcomed by reelected Mayor Wilson Pajo,
and provincial administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr. representing
Gov. Erico Aumentado and heads of agriculture line agencies.
The
secretary breezed into the recently accomplished Bayongan
Irrigation Dam, San Miguel town and to Clarin Freshwater
Fish Farm, Caluwasan, Calrin, Bohol, where he was welcomed
by the employees led by Candido Samijon.
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Yap
was accompanied by directors Eduardo Leccionesand, Ricardo
Oblena, all of DA regional office; director Rolando Imperial,
Yap's exec. asst.; director Ricardo Cachuela, Bureau of Post
Harvest; engr. Romeo Quiza, NIA regional director; Engr. Modesto
Membreve, BHIP II project manager; Andres Bojo, BFAR director;
Engr. Calixto Seroje, provincial irrigation manager; Nestor
Rey Alcoseba, NFA provincial manager; Maria Fe Evasco, NFA
Bohol assistant manager; Dr. Prisco Malabanan, national GMA
rice program director; Engr. Eutiquio Lumayag, BHIP II; Engr.
Fermina Aling BHIP II superintendent; Timoteo Lago, Jr., PCA
provincial manager, Atty. Deodiro Ravelo, PCA regional director;
Engr. Eugene Cahiles APC project manager; and Catalino Ordinario,
president Bohol Coconut Confederation.
The
IAs that participated in and represented by theirn respective
presidents to the forum include Macaagas, Cagawasan, Pilar,
Bohol; Subangan Estabuena, Suba, Estaca, Pilar; Kasabuena,
Katipunan, Alicia, Bohol; Samica, Boyles, Ubay town; Micalespi,
San Isidro, Pilar; Mandalespi, San isidro, Pilar; all of cluster
A; and Estaca Proper, Estaca, Pilar; San D Mil, San Miguel,
Dagohoy, Bohol; Kaligayahan, Estaca, Pilar; Bali Dance, San
Miguel, Dagohoy, Bohol; Micabantug, San Miguel, Dagohoy; Lacalsanda,
Caluasan, Dagohoy; Propilca, Ppblacion, Dagohoy, all of cluster
B.
Solid,
Basan, San Isidro, Pilar; Sanbag, San Isidro, Pilar; Buenas,
Buenavista, Ubay, Bohol; Basaniba, Babag, Dagohoy; Masdanueba,
Mahayag, San Miguel; Mahayag SM, Mahayag, Sam Miguel; and
MMD, Mahayag, San Miguel, Bohol, all of cluster C.
Other
IAs include Ubay-Capayas irrigators located at Main lateral
A canal, lateral B canal, lateral C1 canal, and C-C2 Canal,
Bol-anon irrigators association, Uria, BEBU, Cabugason, G.
C. B. IA, Haloga, Paghalo, Magcahiusa, Probanelpa, Nagcatucma
and Catuboran. (Ric V. Obedencio)
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