One of the key initiatives of the provincial government of Pangasinan, led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, is improving the agriculture sector.
He aims to help farmers accelerate planting through modern machinery.
In 2022, he introduced the Corporate Farming program to farmers across the province.
On November 6, 1,024 farmers from six districts of the province graduated from their training in corporate farming.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Provincial Training and Development Center 2 in Lingayen.
“We will invest in you. The province will also buy your harvest, your rice, or grain. We have programs for harvesters, rice processing, drones, and marketing. We’ll allocate a budget to purchase your produce because we’re implementing corporate farming,” said Governor Ramon V. Guico III.
During the ceremony, the Barangay Cabatuan Alaminos City Irrigator and Farmers Association Incorporated was awarded as the Provincial Achiever and received Php 7,500.
Joey, a member of the same association, was named the Provincial Farmer Cooperator Achiever, receiving Php 4,000.
Joey expressed his deep gratitude to Governor Guico, highlighting how the Corporate Farming program significantly benefited his rice farming.
According to Joey Pimentel, Provincial Farmer Cooperator Achiever, “The tools and fertilizers provided were at cost, without added charges. What’s even better is that we pay only after harvest. This has been a huge help for us farmers. Thank you, Governor, for supporting farmers like me and everyone here. I hope your assistance to us continues so we can further improve our farming.”
The Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture Region 1 also provided Php 500,000 in funding to the provincial government under the Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Systems Project.
This initiative aims to improve the quality of farming and agricultural products in the province.
Vice Governor Ronald DG. Lambino, Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the Agriculture Training Institute attended the ceremony.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
