COTABATO CITY, PHILIPPINES, 18 February 2023 – The Korean Government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), turned over more than PHP 12 million (USD 224,346)-worth of farm machinery and post-harvest equipment to five farmer organizations of five barangays in Kabacan Municipality, Cotabato on Thursday, 2 February 2023, to promote farm mechanization among farmer-members.
The machinery included combine harvesters, four-wheel drive tractors with implements and front loader, and village-type stationary rice mills.
The hand-over ceremony, which was held at the Kabacan Municipal Government Center, was led by KOICA-Philippines Country Director Kim Eunsub, Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza, Mayor Evangeline Guzman of Kabacan, and Dante Eleuterio, head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)-Philippines’ Mindanao sub-Office.
Distributed were four stationery rice mills, two combine harvesters, three farm tractors with trailers and farm implements. In his address at the hand-over event, KOICA Country Director Kim said that the Korean government and KOICA would always support initiatives towards the enhancement of the socio-economic well-being of Filipino farmers and contribute to the attainment of sustainable peace and development and inclusive growth in Mindanao.
Recipient organizations included the Kilagasan Poblacion Magatos Irrigators Association, Liton-Kibales-Magatos Irrigators Association, Osias SN Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Dagupan ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Kabacan Agri-Resources.
The provision of the farm machinery and post-harvest equipment is part of the “Support to Agriculture and Agribusiness Enterprises in Mindanao for Sustainable Development” project, an initiative being implemented by FAO with funding support from KOICA.
This USD 5.8 million project supports 42 community-based organizations in the two target provinces of Cotabato and Maguindanao by providing access to farm production inputs, improving agricultural mechanization to fully integrate farmers into agricultural value chains, and a comprehensive capacity building intervention on agri-entrepreneurship and resilient livelihoods. It is expected to benefit 10,740 farming households, or 53,700 individuals.
Raising the levels of farm mechanization in agricultural communities is a priority focus of KOICA and FAO to support government efforts in improving agriculture production methods, increasing farm productivity and efficiency, and enhancing food security measures to address hunger in the country.
