Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez yesterday said while mechanized farming will boost agriculture, he also expressed concern that it could displace a lot of workers.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Monday said the provincial government is joining the push of the Department of Agriculture towards farm mechanization to boost food production.
Marañon, Alvarez and members of the Negros Occidental Sanggunian are attending the Makina-Saka 2012 agricultural machinery exposition that opens at the World Trade Center in Pasay City today.
To help Filipino farmers catch up, the DA farm modernization program will subsidize up to 85 percent of the acquisition cost of farm machineries by qualified farmer organizations and irrigators’ associations, the governor said.
The remaining 15 percent will be shouldered by the beneficiaries, their local governments or private entities, Marañon added.
Alvarez said the DA-donated combine rice harvester to the province is ideal for those who own at least 100 hectares of rice fields but not for those who own only 5 to 20 hectares as it cost P2 million.
He said he is suggesting that town and city governments buy the machine instead and make it available for use to its small farmers for emergency harvesting.*CPG
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