SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government has procured 12 farm tractors to help step up government’s effort in pursuing rice sufficiency and uplift farmers’ resiliency.
Mayor Arvin Salonga said the P18-million worth tractors that were bought with the assistance of the Land Bank of the Philippines will cut cost by at least P3,000 per farmer per cropping season.
The municipal agriculture office said the equipment can till some 2,800 hectares of over 10,000 hectares of rice lands in this town per season.
Salonga said some portions of agricultural lands in this municipality are planted thrice a year.
“Ang San Antonio po ay isa sa mga pangunahing contributor ng rice production ng Nueva Ecija,” the mayor noted.
The tractors will serve the farmers for free as the MAO is coming up with clear-cut guidelines to maximize effective use of the machines.
Salonga said the municipal government would want to take part in the thrust of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as well as Gov. Aurelio Umali of boosting agricultural productivity.
Aside from the tractors, the LGU also purchased three garbage trucks for distribution to three villages.