The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed agri-fishery equipment and inputs to 23 cooperatives and four local government units (one of which is the Municipality of Taraka) and Lanao del Sur. The purpose of this aid distribution is to enhance the government’s thrusts on food sufficiency and security.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala together with DAF-ARMM Regional Secretary Sangkula Tendick, Assistant Regional Secretary Pendatun Disimban, BFAR –ARMM Director Janice Musali Al-Hajja, Provincial Agricultural Officer Pangalian A. Balingdong Jr., and Director for Operations Kalunsiang Dimalen graced the Farmers and Fishermen forum held on May 8, 2012 at the provincial capitol in Lanao del Sur.
DAF-ARMM Regional Information Division Chief Dhigs Abdullah said, Alcala assisted by Lanao del Sur provincial governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., turned-over certificates to recipient farmers and fisher folk cooperatives and local officials.
The farm equipment and inputs worth P620,000 include a total of 330 bags of certified rice seeds distributed at 20 bags each to Kamapian sa Ranao Center, Peace Center Incorporated and Unity and Coop Foundation of Lanao del Sur, Inc. all of Marawi City; Liliotun Farmers Assocation and Al-Isla People Economic Multipurpose Coop in Balindog, Tadman Farmers Assocation, Golden Multipurpose Coop, and United Bubong Multipurpose Coop all in the town of Bubong, Shanglan Islamic Development Mulitpurpose Coop, Ditsaan-Ramain, Ompongan o Tanbasok sa Ranao in Marantao, OISCA Farm Development Coop in Poona Bayabao and Al Fallah Multipurpose Coop in Taraka. The Shakba Federation of Irrigators Association of Bubong received 50 bags of certified rice seeds and organic fertilizer while Bubong Kamapian Farmers Association received 40 bags of organic fertilizer and one unit each of abaca stripping machine, wheat and rice thresher and shallow tube well were given to Mindanao Farmers Producer Cooperative of marogong, Tapukan Farmers Multipurpose Coop in Piagapo and Supangan Farmer Producer Coop in Taraka all in the province of Lanao del Sur.
Twelve (12) units motorized banca and eight (8) units fish aggregate devices worth P1.3 million were turned-over to fishermen cooperatives and local government units. Recipients of the motorized fishing banca with two units per cooperative include Sugodian Farmers and Fisherfolks Multipurpose Coop and Ranao Fishermen Islamic Development Multipurpose Coop both of Marawi City; Lakeside Fisher Multipurpose Coop of Balindog, Bairan Farmers and Fishermen Association of Bayang, Siapko Paglas Multipurpose Coop of Buadiposo and Raya Gadongan Fishermen and Farmers Marketing Coop of Ditsaan-Ramain while beneficiaries of the two units each fish aggregate device are the towns of Balabagan, Kapatagan, Malabang and Picong.
In his message, Secretary Alcala stressed the importance of cooperation and partnership in pushing for economic growth that would improve people’s quality of life assuring more livelihood assistance.

“I believe, with our partnership and with the cooperation of the local chief executives, we will be able to hasten the development of the lives of the residents of Lanao del Sur,” Alcala said.
In response, Governor Adiong expressed belief that the assistance they received would boost the agriculture and fishery sectors in the province adding that low production due to insufficient support, facility and irrigation system has been the primary problem of the local farmer
As this developed, Secretary Alcala has ordered Administrator Antonio Nangel of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to allocate additional funds for the rehabilitation of Kamanga dam which he earlier visited that could irrigate more than 3,000 hectares of farmlands in the towns of Ramain, Buadiposo and Bubong, and also instructed BFAR-ARMM director Musali to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a hatchery project near Lanao Lake.
Abdullah also said that Secretary Alcala commits to provide three (3) units of corn mill and twenty (20) heads of carabao with plow and harrow for corn-producing towns in the province and that the agency will likewise coordinate the Lanao del Sur provincial government for the possible inclusion of the area in the Greening Program with rubber, coffee and cacao among the priority commodities.
In addition, Municipal Mayor of Taraka Atty. Amenoden U. Sumagayan, expresses his gratitude for the programs and projects of the DAF – ARMM extended to the Municipality and it’s constituents.
*Reference: Philippine Information Agency http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R12&article=1661336708030