The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued guidelines fleshing out the qualifications on a mechanization program under the Sugar Industry Development Act (SIDA).
SRA through Memorandum Circular No. 3 series of 2022 dated September 15 said qualified beneficiaries under the mechanization program are sugarcane farmers, planter’s associations, mill district development councils, cooperatives and foundations who are registered with SRA as a service provider of farm machineries.
Beneficiaries should include as their members at least 50 percent small farmers cultivating 10 hectares and less of sugarcane plantation.
The SRA will also create a farm mechanization committee composed of several officials mainly to endorse and validate eligible beneficiaries as well as review individual memorandum of agreements to be signed and evaluate the “soundness” of the operations manual for the maintenance, repair and deployment of machineries.
A project management team will also be put up to analyze data collected through the monitoring efforts to assess the performance of machines and coach beneficiaries on areas for improvement.
The circular added ownership and control of farm machineries may be given to beneficiaries subject to the approval of the SRA Board as the latter will monitor the operation, management and financial status of beneficiaries with respect to the implements provided.
The SRA also said beneficiaries will be responsible for the overall management, administration, commercial operation, maintenance and repair of farm machineries but must maintain a separate financial and accounting records that can be made available for inspection and monitoring.
The provision of funds for farm mechanization and modernization was institutionalized under SIDA to address the shortage of labor and increase productivity and income of farmers.
