The city government donated PHP9.1 million worth of farming equipment on Monday to boost the production efficiency of local farmers.

“These (farming equipment) will help farmers in planting and harvesting. It will increase the production efficiency of our farmers,” Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe said in an interview on Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, Dalipe led the turnover of two rice combine harvesters and 24 units of transplanters to the Office of the City Agriculture (OCA), which will oversee their distribution to farming associations.

The equipment was purchased through the city’s 2024 budget for agriculture.

City Agriculturist Arben Magdugo said the 24 units of rice transplanters would be donated to 28 local farmers’ associations, which will oversee their use.

Four farmers’ associations are located in the agricultural district of Ayala, four in Tumaga, five in Culianan, five in Manicahan, five in Curuan, and five in Vitali.

Magdugo urged the farmers’ associations to adopt a resolution to set a rental fee for the use of the rice transplanters, guided by the agricultural district office.

“It will become a fund of the association that they can use to maintain the equipment given them,” he said.

He added that the two rice combine harvesters will be given to the Pasomaria Irrigators Association and Siguinan-Bunguiao Farmers’ Association.

Monday’s turnover of farming equipment by the city government was the second since last week.

On Feb. 17, the city government distributed six Japan-made farm tractors worth PHP19.2 million to enhance agricultural productivity in 98 villages of the city’s six agricultural districts. (PNA)