The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is set to deploy 80 tractor units and other farm equipment acquired through the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid to boost efficiency and productivity in sugarcane areas nationwide.
SRA said the Philippines received a total of 80 tractor units as well as 48 units of sugarcane planter, another 48 units of lateral flair mower and five units of power harrow amounting to a total of P314 million.
Pablo Azcona, SRA administrator, said in a statement 51 units of tractors will be deployed to sugarcane areas in the Visayas with Negros Occidental getting the bulk at 24 units, Negros Oriental,11; Iloilo, six; Leyte, four while Cebu and Capiz will be getting three each.
Azcona said Luzon sugar areas will be getting 15 tractors as Mindanao will have 14 units.
Under the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid that was entered into by the Department of Finance and the SRA with the Japanese government in 2021, SRA will be the owner of these farm machineries and implements procured through the grant and will submit an impact assessment report to the DOF and the Japan government three years after its implementation.
SRA said to ensure the sustainability of the program, the farm machineries and implements will also be consigned to select farmers group for a fee proportional to the cost of maintenance and upkeep of these.
Azcona said the distribution of the machineries is in time with the start of the new milling season.
