President Ferdinand Marcos and DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III lead land title distribution and turnover of farm machineries and equipment in Caraga

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. today led the distribution of 4,659 hectares of agricultural land to 2,769 farmers in the CARAGA region, composed of Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur, and the Dinagat Islands, assisted by Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III.

P8.9M worth of farm equipment composed of tractors, hand tractors, grass cutters, and knapsack sprayers to 1,681 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). This is under the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Climate Resilient Farm Productivity and Support Program (CRFPSP), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.

Secretary Estrella said that the turnover of titles and various farm machinery and equipment would boost agricultural productivity in the region. In addition to these, the DAR also provides agrarian reform beneficiaries with much-needed access to credit facilities and various capacity-building activities as part of the thrust for the farmer’s adoption of modern agricultural techniques and practices.

In his address before the agrarian reform beneficiaries, the President lauded the efforts of the DAR and the local government units of CARAGA in adopting his whole-of-government approach to uplifting the plight of the Filipino farmer and achieving the goal of food security.

The chief executive visited the site of Agusan del Sur Provincial Soils Laboratory, the first soil testing facility in Mindanao and the most modern in the Philippines, which will play a pivotal role in maximizing agricultural productivity in the region. The laboratory is a partnership between the Australian aid agency with the provincial government of Agusan del Sur.

A total of eight farm-to-market roads worth P194M were completed in Surigao Del Sur, located in the remote municipalities of Cagwait, Madrid, Carmen, Tago, San Miguel, and Barobo. The farmers in these municipalities will now benefit from greater market accessibility for their produce.

Secretary Estrella reiterated that the DAR remains committed to meeting the key performance targets set by the President to the agency, to distribute all the remaining available land to farmers, parcelize these, and expand support