Sultan Kudarat Farmers Get First Marketing Center From DAR

A modern support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Sultan Kudarat has been turned over by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here.

Known as Agrarian Reform Information and Marketing Center (AIM-C), it aims to give an integrated package of support to ARBs, especially to members of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Network (SKARBNet).

Rodolfo Alburo, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) said that the project costs PHP19,875,076.

“The facility is equipped with motor pool, office space and conference room, display area for processed or produced products and storage area for the consolidated products such as rice, corn, oil palm and sugar cane,” Alburo said in a statement.

Alburo said AIM-C will also become the home of set of farm machinery given by DAR to the SKARBNet, that included two dump trucks, one 90-HP tractor, and other common service facilities for the use and benefit of the farmers.

Alburo said that the project will also serve as a venue for training sessions and other activities for the good of the farmers.

He also believed that SKARBNet can sustain the project because of the skilled people behind the organization and its good practice of transparency.

Jolly Marquez, SKARBNET chairperson, said that they will use the facility to improve the plight of their fellows.

“We are doing what we can at the moment to help our fellow farmers,” Marquez said.

He added that they are offering lower cost of fertilizers and other farm inputs as well as lower fees for the use of farm machinery as opposed to their private counterparts.

Marquez committed to manage and operate the facility properly and conscientiously.

AIM-C is the last project implemented by DAR under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP-III), in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat.

A farmer beneficiary lauded the DAR project saying it only showed the government agency was really working for the people, especially ordinary farmers, who have been suffering from the brunt of long dry spell. (PNA) FFC/NYP/EOF