The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Camarines Sur distributed farm machinery and equipment (FME) and agricultural farm inputs worth more than P900,000.00 to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
DAR Bicol Regional Director Rodrigo Realubit said the amount consists of P707,328.00 worth of farm machinery and equipment and P205,610.00 worth of farm inputs provided to four ARB Organizations under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program.
“Aside from distributing agricultural lands, the DAR also provided the farmers with common service facilities to ensure that their parcel of land becomes productive, increase their production, and subsequently improve their lives,” Realubit said.
He reminded the members of the cooperative to handle the equipmemt with care and maintain it in good condition to maximize its usefulness and subsequently result in more farm outputs.
The beneficiaries include the Libtong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (LARBA) in Sitio Libtong, Payatan, Goa; Coyaoyao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (CARBA) in Coyaoyao, Tigaon; San Ramon Vegetable Farmers Association (SRVFA) in San Ramon, Tinambac; and Bahi Farmers and Fisherfolks Organization (BAFFO) in Bahi, Garchitorena, Camarines
Under the project, the ARBs were also provided with agri-extension and technology services coupled with farm inputs. The technology training gave emphasis on the major crop cultivated in the area which is rice and corn.
Farm inputs distributed to the ARBOs include thirteen bags each of certified rice seeds and four bags each of corn seeds to both SRVFA and CARBA, twenty bags of certified rice seeds to BAFFO, and nine bags of corn seeds to LARBA.
The project will adopt the roll-over scheme in order to sustain the project and the inputs trading enterprise of the ARBO.
Among the CSFs provided were two units of corn sheller turned-over to LARBA, two units rototiller with implements granted to SRVFA, one unit hand tractor with implements to CARBA and one unit mobile rice milling machine delivered to BAFFO.
On-site testing and operation and management were done in order to test its performance and provide technical guidance for the efficient use and operation of the CSFs.