Farmers in Cagayan Valley received a major agricultural boost as the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO 2) turned over P22 million worth of modern farming equipment and infrastructure.
The distribution–held at the DA-Isabela Experiment Station in Upi, Gamu, Isabela–benefited six local government units, 11 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), two state universities, a farm tourism site, and a private hospital. The support was provided under the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), a DA initiative that promotes sustainable food systems in both urban and peri-urban areas.
Included in the grant were greenhouses, mushroom and poultry houses, vegetable packaging facilities, edible gardens, hauling trucks, assorted vegetable seeds, and various agricultural implements. According to DA-RFO2 Regional Executive Director Mary Rose Aquino, the project aims to modernize farming practices, improve food production efficiency, and encourage youth involvement in agriculture.
“It also aims to expand their knowledge and skills to have alternative livelihoods such as raising goats, sheep, chickens, growing mushrooms, and other potential livelihoods,” DA-RFO2 said in a statement.
Modern Facilities Reshape Local Farming
The newly introduced infrastructure equips stakeholders with the means to enhance year-round production, improve post-harvest processing, and increase market readiness. DA Assistant Director Herminigilda Gabertan, citing NUPAP Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban, described the project as modernizing old practices—one that ensures income sustainability regardless of farm size and fosters community resilience in the face of agricultural challenges.
“This project is a new face of farming and one of the department’s strategies so that we can encourage more young people to take an interest in agriculture and give farmers enough knowledge on how to grow their farm and have a continuous income, whether the farmed land is small or large,” Aquino said.
Quirino Gets P20.95M in Mechanization Aid
Separately, in Quirino province, the DA awarded P20.95 million under the 2025 Agricultural Machinery, Equipment, Facilities and Infrastructure Projects (AMEFIP). This package benefited FCAs from the municipalities of Diffun, Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Maddela, and Nagtipunan. The assistance includes heavy-duty farm equipment such as tractors, harvesters, mechanical seeders, solar-powered irrigation systems, greenhouses, drying pavements, and recirculating dryers. The support was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on June 26, 2025.
Combined Impact: Over P42M in Regional Support
Together, the NUPAP and AMEFIP initiatives brought a combined total of P42.95 million in agricultural support to Region 2. These investments are expected to reduce labor costs, boost yields, improve post-harvest efficiency, and make farming more climate-resilient and youth-friendly. With modernized tools and infrastructure, farmers in Cagayan Valley and Quirino are now better equipped to meet market demands, improve livelihoods, and contribute to national food security.
