South Cotabato, Philippines — The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) recently distributed ten (10) abaca stripping machines to farmer associations in the municipalities of T’boli and Lake Sebu at the Provincial Nursery and Demo Farm in Banga.
The initiative responds to the increasing area of abaca plantations and aims to support farmers with the tools necessary to meet growing demands for quality fiber production. With the continuous expansion of abaca farming, the machines were distributed to qualified associations capable of handling a portion of the province’s growing abaca production.
Reynaldo B. Lanbong, a member of the Lake Sebu Tribal Abaca Farmers Association, shared his appreciation: “Before, we could only process 10-20 kilos a day manually, but with the new machine, we can produce 100-200 kilos per day. This project has been long-awaited, and we’re grateful to have it now. Thank you to Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., Doc Teves, and the OPAg!”
Provincial Agriculturist Raul Teves emphasized the importance of supporting local farmers with the right resources. “Our goal is to make farming more efficient, profitable, and sustainable for our communities,” he said during the event.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. also expressed his commitment to the agricultural sector. “This is just one of the steps we’re taking to ensure a sustainable future for our farmers. We’ll continue investing in innovations to help them thrive,” the governor said.
This distribution is part of the provincial government’s broader strategy to modernize agricultural practices, improve productivity, and equip farmers with the necessary tools to succeed in a competitive agricultural market.
