DAR Provides Farm Machines to Farmers’ Orgs

Thirteen agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Ilocos Sur are expectant about the prospect of their future after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over to them P17 million worth of farm machineries.

DAR Regional Director Judita Tungol said these multi-million-peso worth of farm equipment include 13 farm tractors and two units combined harvesters.

“These farm implements will service more than 300 farmers here. These tractors would make farming easier and faster for them. It will also greatly improve their yield and increase their income,” Tungol said.

Tungol said the farm equipment were turned over to five ARBOs in Ilocos Sur’s first district and eight in its second district.

Tungol said the farm machines were given as “equipment grant,” which will be operated by the farm organization as business assets where user fees would be collected and utilized for the operation and maintenance of the farm equipment.

“Through this scheme, the organizations will be empowered to make their organizations grow by engaging into agri-business enterprises,” Tungol said.

At the turn over ceremony, Christianne Suguitan, DAR’s provincial agrarian reform program officer, explained that department, through its ARC Connectivity Economic Support Service (ARCCESS) and the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP) Support Services Division implements the provision of farm machines to improve farm productivity and increase the net income of ARBs in a sustainable manner through their organizations.

“We are encouraging the members of ARBOs to be diligent in convincing farmers, especially ARBs to become members of farm cooperatives to increase ARB membership,” said Suguitan.

“The DAR can only provide additional support services to an organization if there is a growing ARB membership that will justify the need to deliver more farm machineries and equipment,” Suguitan added

Suguitan said through ARCCESS, the DAR would introduce new farm technologies to ARBs to develop their farm cooperatives and ultimately increase their farm yield.

Present during the turn over were: DAR Assistant Secretary for Support Services Teresita Vistro, llocos Sur Vice Governor Jeremias Singson, and Caoayan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Juan Paolo Ancheta.

The turn over ceremony was held at the NSCC Industrial Park, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.