The Negros Oriental government is planning to purchase more tractors to bolster its food security program, being an agriculture-based province.

Gov. Roel Degamo said this is in line with the farm mechanization program, to ensure increased supply of the rice and corn, vegetable and other farm produce.

Degamo said it is important to open new areas for production due to increasing population, and the farm mechanization program will help improve the yield of farmers. In using carabaos, a farmer would finish plowing one hectare in one week, but with the use of a tractor, it will take him only 45 minutes, Degamo pointed out.

Two brand new tractors had also arrived for use by farmers’ cooperatives and organizations in the province, the system of which is being worked out by the provincial agriculture office.

In Dumaguete City, it is called “plow now, pay later,” but farmers groups are lining up to pay first so they can use the tractor.

The governor personally tested the brand-new tractors which come complete with implements, such as disc plow.*JG