MANILA &ndash; The Japanese government officially turned over agricultural machineries worth approximately PHP 314 million for sugarcane farmers as part of its support for the Philippines&rsquo; sugarcane industry. 
According to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, the said equipment comprises of 80 farm tractors and 48 mechanical planters through the Non-Project Grant Aid of Japan&rsquo;s Official Development Assistance (ODA) schemes.
During the turnover ceremony held in Bacolod City, Japan Embassy First Secretary and Agriculture Attache&rsquo; Mr. Tachikawa Jumpei recognized the significant role of the sugarcane industry in the country&rsquo;s economic and social development.
Tachikawa also expressed Japan&rsquo;s steadfast commitment in assisting the Philippines &ldquo;in creating better solutions for the agriculture sector.&rdquo;
In attendance during the turnover and inauguration ceremony are Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco T. Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo B. Benitez, Sugar Regulatory Administration Board Member-Planter&rsquo;s Representative David Andrew Sanson, along with other local government officials and farmer beneficiaries.
The donation supports the Philippine government&rsquo;s farm mechanization program spearheaded by the Agriculture Department. &nbsp;
The agricultural machineries are expected to improve efficient planting, cultivation, care and harvesting of sugarcane.

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Japan turns over PHP 314M worth agricultural machinery for sugarcane farmers in Bacolod City