DA-13 turns over rice mill facility to farmers’ association in Surigao Norte
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) -- To help boost the rice industry in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga recently turned over a rice mill and warehouse to a farmers’ group in Sison town, Surigao del Norte.
The intervention with a capacity of 2,000 bags of paddy amounted to a total of P3.6 million as support to the program on rice mechanization under the National Rice Program of the DA.
The Maitom San Pablo Sison Farmers Irrigators Association led by its Chairperson Herlito R. Acedera, as recipient of the program, is composed of 107 members. They have a total production area of 80 hectares with a potential area of 45 hectares. They also have a production volume of 56 metric tons per year.
DA Caraga Regional Technical Director Abel F. Wagas and Sison Municipal Mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia led the ceremonial turnover on August 2 at the Agri-Complex, San Isidro, Sison.
In his message Dir. Wagas encouraged the association to go into processing and turn rice farming into an enterprise for the group to further grow and develop.
He also encouraged and challenged the members to get a certification on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
On her part, Mayor Fetalvero-Paronia motivated the group to formulate policies for the proper management of the rice mill and warehouse to ensure sustainability of the facility. (DA- Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
