The Department of Agrarian Reform turned over farm equipment worth P500,000 to Sultan Kudarat farmers to improve their livelihood
The Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of Sultan Kudarat received agricultural equipment worth ₱500,000 from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) that would increase their farm productivity and profitability skills.
The Tagumpay Vegetable Growers Association (TVGA) from the municipality of Esperanza received a delivery vehicle worth ₱250,000, while the Pusot Women's Organization of Palimbang town received a corn and rice mill worth ₱100,000 and ₱150,000 respectively.
The livelihood programs are a part of DAR's efforts in the province to improve the ARBs' economic lives, said Mary Jane Aguilar, OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II.
“I hope the ARBs will maintain the usability of these farm machinery to help them in the transportation, processing, and marketing of their products. They must also continue to be resilient in order to strengthen their organization to withstand any future difficulties,” Aguilar said.
The farmers were reassured by DAR SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Director Mariannie Lauban- Baunto that the organization will make every effort to address any issues or problems they would encounter.
The climate resilient farm productivity support project, which provided livelihood assistance in the form of farm machinery and equipment, farm inputs, and capacity development interventions, are meant to address food security in the context of climate change.
Jose Herminio Legada, president of the TVGA, commended DAR for the agricultural equipment they got and for the department's ongoing support and assistance, which helped support the expansion of their organizations.
“This delivery truck will surely provide us with ease in transporting our farm goods and produce. Gone are the days where we suffered financial constraints due to high transport costs notwithstanding the difficulties in ferrying out our products to the market. You can be assured that this truck will be put to good use and properly maintained for its longevity and purpose,” he said.
Tags: #DAR, #SultanKudaratFarmers, #farmmachinery