A group of farmers in the Surigao del Sur town of Tago is seeing a good future in corn farming with the aid of farm mechanization.

Richard Virtudazo, chairperson of the Bangsud Anahao Bag-o Kinabigtasan Farmer’s Association (BAKIFA), said farm mechanization remains one of the best solutions to boosting farm productivity and increasing income for farmers.

“We thank the government for the farm machinery we received through the Department of Agriculture-Caraga Region (DA-13),” Virtudazo said in an interview Friday.

BAKIFA received PHP3.8 million worth of farm equipment consisting of a combine harvester machine and a pneumatic corn planter through the DA-13 and the National Corn Program (NCP) on Thursday.

“Through this farm equipment, work will be eased and the members of our organization can save more,” Virtudazo said, adding the machinery will directly benefit the 148 corn farmers who are active BAKIFA members.

The organization, he said, was formed in 2019 with 50 original members from the different barangays of Tago.

In a separate statement Friday, NCP Director Milo Delos Reyes said the farm machinery intervention will address the challenges faced by the corn farmers in the town, especially in uplifting their lives through increased income.

“We appeal to the officers and members of BAKIFA to keep the machinery in good condition through following the recommended care and maintenance,” Delos Reyes said. (PNA)