DAR GRANTS 3.6M-WORTH OF FERTILIZER AND FARM MACHINERY TO ILONGGO ARBOs

In an endeavor to provide sustainable livelihood assistance to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province of Iloilo, DAR Iloilo distributed fertilizers and farm machinery worth Php 3,657,844.58 to 7 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs). Sustaining the livelihoods of ARBOs is a critical aspect of agricultural development in agrarian reform communities (ARCs). Such support is vital for enhancing farm production, enabling them to generate more income, increase agricultural productivity, and improve their socio-economic conditions.

The distribution of farm inputs and farm machinery equipment was implemented and funded under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) through the Major Crop-Based Block Farm Productivity Enhancement Project (MCBF) and Sustainable Livelihood Support (SLS) Program. It includes 2 units of turtle power tiller,1-unit hand tractor without trailer, 1-unit abaca stripping machine, 1-unit rice reaper, 1-unit multi-purpose shredder, 1-unit 40 HP four-wheel drive tractor, and 542 bags of urea and triple-14 fertilizers which will benefit the Dumangas Agrarian Reform Cooperative from Dumangas, Damires Farmers Marketing Cooperative from New Lucena, Tuburan Abaca Handicraft Association (TAHA) from Janiuay, CAGFAS Agrarian Reform Cooperative from Anilao, Zarraga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association from Zarraga, JAGO CARP Beneficiaries Multi- Purpose Cooperative from Lemery and TIMIPAL Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative from Balasan, Iloilo.

“The grant is a tremendous help, alleviating the need to borrow money, especially considering the current high prices of fertilizers. As recipients of this support, our association can now effectively enhance our farming activities, particularly in our rice fields, which serve as our primary source of income and livelihood. The fertilizer grant not only eases our financial burdens but also contributes to the overall sustainability and success of our agricultural pursuits,” Mrs. Linda S. Predonio, Bookkeeper of TAHA said.

In a similar statement, Mr. Winifredo S. Salazar, Chairman of Damires Farmers Marketing Cooperative, emphasized the importance of the fertilizer