SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, July 28 (PIA) - In an effort to reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers income and production, the Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over P10.4 million worth of projects to the local government of Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND), Lanao del Norte on July 26.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado led the turnover of pre- and post-harvest projects to the LGU represented by Casan P. Colo, committee chair for agriculture, and to the eight farmer-association beneficiaries.

Skylark Farmers Association of barangay Dableston received the P4.09 million warehouse, a component of the agency's Rice Program for proper storage of agricultural inputs and machineries of said town.

The 200-square meter warehouse with 195 metric tons capacity supports the buffer stocking and bagged grains and seeds of the farmers.

The LGU also received pre- and post-harvest facilities and equipment in enhancing food productivity amounting to P6.3 million, comprising two units of rice transplanter, two units four-wheel drive tractor, four units water pump and two units cassava granulator.

SND is the fourth rice producing municipality in Lanao del Norte with a yield of 4.86 metric tons per hectare, next to Lala, Salvador and Kapatagan.

The 1,143 rice farmers will benefit said projects covering 2,728.75-hectare rice area, both for irrigated and rainfed areas.

Director Collado challenged the farmer-association beneficiaries to maintain and operate the equipment to provide services to its members.

"Dakong garbo namo mga mag-uuma nga nakadawat sa mga proyekto gikan sa DA diin dako ug matabang kanamo," said Simplicio G. Calapine, Chair of SND Pandanan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association in said town. (ATCabig/DA-10/PIA ICIC)