In a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity, Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe spearheaded the distribution of six high-value farm tractors, totaling PHP19.2 million, on February 17, 2025. These Japan-made tractors are set to revolutionize farming practices across the city’s six agricultural districts, which encompass 98 barangays. The initiative, funded through the city’s 2024 agriculture budget, aims to mechanize and modernize the local farming sector. Mayor Dalipe emphasized the importance of this program in supporting local farmers and improving efficiency. The tractors were handed over to the Office of the City Agriculturist (OCA), which will manage their deployment and ensure they are used effectively. City Agriculturist Arben Magdugo detailed that each of the six districts – Ayala, Tumaga, Culianan, Manicahan, Curuan, and Vitali – will receive two tractors. Farmers interested in utilizing these machines will need to pay PHP1,800 per hectare and supply 40 liters of diesel per hectare plowed, as per city regulations. The tractors will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with OCA operators overseeing their operation. Additionally, Magdugo announced the upcoming delivery of further equipment, including 24 walk-behind transplanters, 48 power tillers, two combined harvesters, and 127 water pumps, to further bolster the city’s agricultural capabilities.
