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Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) turned over a brand-new hauling truck and other agricultural tools and inputs worth a total of P1,715,000 to vegetable farmers in Dolores, Quezon, held at the municipality’s trading post in Brgy. Bulakin II, on January 15, 2021.

Aside from the P1.4-million hauling truck, which can be utilized by every farmers’ group in Dolores, the distribution includes 10 kilograms of vegetable seeds, five knapsack sprayers, one unit of power sprayer, five sets of garden tools, 10 plastic crates, and 100 bags of organic fertilizer for the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng San Mateo Farmers’ Association.

In her message, Officer-In-Charge-Regional Executive Director (OIC-RED) Vilma M. Dimaculangan said that one of the most challenging aspects of vegetable farming is transporting produce from farm to market. With that, Director Dimaculangan said that DA CALABARZON would turn over two more hauling trucks to Dolores in the next few months.

“Kami po sa Kagawaran ay humihiling sa inyo na gamitin ang aming mga ibinibigay nang tama. Ang iba pa pong mga magsasaka na nais humingi ng mga kagamitan o butong pananim ay maaaring dumulog kay municipal agriculturist Anniewenda Reyes. Siguraduhin lamang po natin na ang mga ito po ay ating naitatanim,” Director Dimaculangan said.

The OIC-RED also reminded the farmer-recipients to register or be a part of an association or cooperative to greatly benefit from DA interventions.

On the other hand, Dolores Mayor Hon. Orlan A. Calayag expressed his utmost appreciation to DA CALABARZON for the never-ending support to Dolores farmers.

“Sa tulong ng DA, patuloy po nating sisikapin na mapataas ang antas ng mga magsasaka ng Dolores upang mas kikilalanin ang pagsasaka bilang isang sektor na pinakamahalaga sa lipunan. Matutupad po natin ito kung tayo ay sama-sama at magtutulungan. Atin pong sinupin at paunlarin ang biyayang ibinibigay sa atin ng Kagawaran,” Mayor Calayag said.

Ms. Virginia Solis Bautista, president of vegetable growers in Dolores and San Mateo farmers’ association, thanked the DA for the brand-new hauling truck and some additional agricultural inputs that they received today.

“Napakalaki pong tulong ng mga ipinagkaloob ninyo sa amin na mga magsasaka. Ang mga magsasaka po rito ay hirap sa pagbiyahe ng kanilang mga ani kung kaya’t napakalaking bagay po sa amin itong bagong hauling truck mula sa DA lalo na po sa kabuhayan ng mga mahihirap na magsasaka. Ang mga libreng butong pananim at kagamitan ay napakalaking tulong din po sa amin dahil hindi na po namin kailangang gumastos ng pambili,” Ms. Bautista said.

This brand-new hauling truck from DA aims to ease the lives of vegetable farmers in Dolores by giving them better transportation of their commodities from their farms to market and diminishing the cost of delivery for them to have a higher income.

Field Operations Division OIC-Chief and HVCDP Coordinator Engr. Redelliza A. Gruezo, Research Division OIC-Chief and Organic Agriculture Program Coordinator Ms. Eda F. Dimapilis, other DA CALABARZON personnel, and Agricultural Program Coordinating Office-Quezon staff also attended and witnessed the turnover ceremony. ● (MAP, DA-RAFIS)