Cotabato City (August 3, 2018) – A total of 380
farmers from 14 municipalities in Maguindanao have been confirmed as graduates
of the School-on-the-Air (SOA) program of the Department of Agriculture and
Fisheries of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM).
The
farmers successfully passed the course which comprises lectures on proper
operation and maintenance of rice machineries and equipment. The SOA program
aired 5:30-6:00 p.m. every Thursday from April 12 – July 5 on RMN
dxMY.
The
course is in support to ARMM’s rice mechanization program that aims at
optimizing rice farm utilization and labor productivity; reduce labor,
production, and postharvest operation cost; and allow easier and timely
production and postharvest activities.
Alexander
Alonto Jr., Secretary of DAF-ARMM, led the mass graduation ceremony on
Wednesday, August 1, at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex here. “Layunin
ng SOA ngayon na ipaunawa sa atin ang kahalagahan ng paggamit ng mga
makinarya sa ating mga sakahan,” Alonto said.
“Ang
paggamit ng mga makinarya ay mahalaga upang mapabilis at mapagaan ang mga
trabaho sa bukid, at nang mabawasan ang mga losses ng mga farmers sa
kanilang pagsasaka,” he added.
The
graduates are from the following municipalities: Ampatuan; Barira; Datu Hoffer;
Datu Odin Sinsuat; Datu Saudi Ampatuan; Datu Piang; Datu Unsay Ampatuan;
Guindulungan; Mamasapano; Northern Kabuntalan; Sultan Kudarat; Shariff Aguak;
Talayan; and Upi.
Salik
Warao, one of the graduates from Sultan Kudarat, said the program helped him
and the other graduates increase their knowledge on rice farming, “Malaki
ang naidagdag nitong kaalaman sa amin tungkol sa pagsasaka.”
“Nagpapasalamat
kami sa programang ito dahil natutunan namin kung paano gamitin ang mga
makinaryang ito,” Warao said. “Kahit na wala pa kaming mga makinarya
sa ngayon, kung sakaling magkaroon kami nito, ang mahalaga ay marunong na
kaming mag-operate ng mga ito,” he added.
Since
2011, DAF-ARMM has completed 14 SOA programs producing 6,117 graduates. Seven
of these programs were completed under Sec. Alonto’s term. As of now, 400
farmers are undertaking a SOA program covering lectures on soybean production,
utilization, and marketing. (Bureau of Public Information)
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