Gov’t to Link all Infrastructure Projects in Rural Areas with Agri-Enterprises –DAR

(PNA) — In line with the national government’s aim of eradicating the incidence of poverty and hunger in the country, especially in the poorest provinces, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is linking all infrastructure projects in the rural areas with agri-enterprises.

DAR said that through the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, small-scale farmers are given technical assistance and services to increase their productivity.

Among the places in the country, Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte has been chosen by the DAR as the model city in Mindanao for its initiative in food procurement from family members to school feeding program.

According to Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Rizzel B. Villanueva, Dipolog City has the edge among other areas in the country implementing the said program as they also promote organic farming to local farmers.

Meanwhile, National Program Coordinator Lawrence Cruz has shared that PAHP provides essential services to the poorer sectors by bringing together the programs of the government to lessen hunger and poverty among poor households.

Cruz hopes that through consistent implementation of the convergence program along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), poverty and hunger incidence would be fully addressed.

In the PAHP program, the DAR is in-charge of the agri-enterprises and community-devices development through its Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program that engages farmers’ organizations in the production and supply of food items required by the Pantawid Parent Leaders’ Organization (PPLO) in the province.

The DSWD facilitates the feeding program through its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and manages the downloading of funds directly to the PPLO.

Meanwhile, the local government unit’s contribution is the building of food hubs that can store food items being used in the feeding program.

The DA provides the production of inputs, equipment and facilities; and also teaches good crop production practices to farmers’ organizations.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Consultant Flavio Luis Mazzaro de Freitas said that among the benefits of the program to farmers are: increase of income to small farmers; improved access to food; promotion of local economies; enhancement of food varieties to be produced by small farmers; and boost on production of organic products.

Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn T. Uy has expressed her gratitude to PAHP as a program which, she believes, truly conforms to the city’s goal to reduce hunger and poverty in the community. (PNA) SCS/JDM