KIDAPAWAN CITY, (PNA) — North Cotabato, Central Mindanao’s leading agriculture producing province, received agriculture support projects from the Dept. of Agriculture amounting to P20.6 million, the DA-12 announced Monday.
Amalia Jayag-Datukan, DA-12 regional executive director, personally handed over to North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza the certificates of turn-over last weekend.
“These projects worth 20.6 million pesos are composed of different sub-projects from the department’s banner programs based on their budget allocations,” Datukan said.
She also disclosed that some of these projects are joint projects of the provincial government and the DA which the latter had prioritized since it would benefit hundreds and even thousands of Cotabato farmers.
At least 19,400 pieces of laminated sacks – P9.6-M; 140 units knapsack sprayers with plastic water drums – 488,000.00; and 4,042 bags of certified palay seeds amounting to P4.9-M were given by Agri-Pinoy Rice Program.
Agri-Pinoy Corn Program, on the other hand, turned-over 755 bags of open pollinated variety white corn registered seeds worth P868,000 and 500 bags of hybrid white corn seeds amounting to P1.5-M.
The regional office in partnership with North Cotabato is set to establish a bio-control agent’s laboratory worth P1 million along with the provision of 2,500 liters of glacial acetic acid valued at 300,000.00 funded by the Agri-Pinoy High Value Crops Development Program.
“These projects are still part of the 2013 budget allotment for the province of North Cotabato,” Datukan noted.
The plan to establish a rubber budwood garden amounting to P1.650-M, which will be funded under 2014 budget, was also formally turned-over to the province.
The Agri-Pinoy Livestock Program also committed two heads of Simbrah bull each worth P75,000 and five Brahman Heifers pegged at P30,000 each.
Mendoza said that these agricultural projects will definitely help her administration in putting into action the province’s initiative of meeting the agricultural assistance needed by Cotabato farmers.