MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing P74 million for the province of Camarines Norte to further increase crop production and help raise the incomes of farmers there.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the bulk of the fund or P60 million will be used to construct and rehabilitate various irrigation projects.
Some P13.7-million worth of assistance, he said will include farm machinery, planting materials, fishing paraphernalia, potable water system, and start-up capital for livelihood projects.
He also said the DA will be providing two hand tractors with trailers, two units of mechanical dryers, a seed cleaner and seedlings to irrigators’ associations and farmers’ groups.
The department through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 5 is likewise extending funds for aquasilviculture and seaweed projects, mangrove rehabilitation and production of mangrove propagules, and establishment of community multi-purpose fish hatchery.
To improve the water supply of one municipality in the province, the department committed to provide additional funds to repair and improve the Alawihao Dam.
The Agriculture department also said that a tramline system in Barangay Matacong, in the town of San Lorenzo Ruiz, was recently inaugurated by Alcala.
The department said that through the tramline, the time to transport the goods can be reduced from two hours to only six minutes.
For farmers to benefit from the tramline, Alcala said he has given instructions to earmark funds for the construction of farm-to-market roads from the tramline station to the nearest municipal road.
“The tramline will benefit 120 farm families in Matacong, who will save on hauling and transport costs by as much as 60 percent,” Alcala said.