Pinol turns over P168-M farm equipment to Region 12 farmers

TUPI, South Cotabato – Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol on Monday distributed about P168 million worth of farm machinery and various post-harvest facilities to farmers’ organizations in Region 12. Speaking during the turn over ceremonies at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Research and Experiment Station in Barangay Bululmala, Tupi, South Cotabato, Pinol emphasized the importance of agricultural activity in the region as his department is looking for rice sufficiency in the next 4 years. We have enough water, sunlight we are so blessed wth our natural resources, Pinol said. However, we don’t have the modern equipment to provide sufficient water for our farmers, Pinol told over 1000 farmers in attendance.
Living with what is available minus the most modern technology Pinol said he has the idea of delivering the sufficient amount of water to farmlands whose farmers have difficulty getting enough water.The hard working cabinet official said solar irrigation projects are among the priorities of his office. A solar irrigation project was launched in 2017 by Pres. Duterte in Mlang, North Cotabato and more similar projects are set for distribution in other parts of the country.Pinol targeted over 100 plus solar irrigation which will be implemented in the different areas in the country with insufficient amount of water for their crops.Also in attendance in Monday’s activity were South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes and other local government executives from the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos.In his speech, Pinol also clarified about his reported Senate bid next year.The former politician-turned-country’s agri czar, saidand I will not run for senate, this is my dream job to be DA secretary when I was young and now I’m living my dream. (Karl Mike Tabingo)