The province of Negros Occidental has acquired P9.2 million worth of agricultural machinery to boost its farm mechanization program.

Japhet Masculino, head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), on Monday said the machinery delivered last weekend are now housed at the Rice Processing Complex at Barangay Tabunan in Bago City.

The equipment include two units of 70 horsepower harvester worth P4.4 million; three units of ride on transplanter, P3.2 million; two units of walk behind transplanter, P800,000; and one laser leveler, P800,000.

Masculino said the recently-purchased machines are part of the P25 million worth of farm mechanization equipment programmed by the province.

The rest include five tractors and three 35 horsepower harvesters amounting to P15.8 million, expected to arrive next week.

“(Then) we can now start the province-led focused mechanization program with the arrival of these farm machines,” Masculino said.

The OPA is developing a 200-hectare rice farm in Barangay Taloc, Bago City into a model farm through full mechanization.

Under the focused mechanization program, the province will provide the machinery and operate the farm – from land preparation, transplanting to harvesting.

“We will teach farmers how to operate these machines as we move towards full mechanization. We will have a pool of ready and equipped operators,” he added.

Also last week, the provincial government through the Provincial Engineer’s Office announced its acquisition of 13 units of brand-new dump trucks worth P84.964 million to be used for various engineering and construction projects.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. inspected the dump trucks at the Capitol on November 6.

Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa said they bought nine units of six-wheeler trucks worth P6.38 million each and three units of 10-wheeler trucks amounting to P8.188 million each.

The province also purchased a P2.98-million dump truck to be used for its garbage collection project at the Provincial Capitol. (PNA)