S. Cotabato ARBs get P1.25M FMEs
THE agricultural livelihood of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in South Cotabato will be further improved with the use of the various farm machineries and equipment (FMEs) that they recently received from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
H. Roldan Ali, DAR Soccsksargen Assistant Regional Director, South Cotabato, said that the P1.25 million worth of FMEs would help the ARBs sustain the benefits they received from the government.
The provision of FMEs is anchored to the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to boost the economic lives of the farmers.
The Rizal 3 SN Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative in the town of Banga received P1.025-million 4-wheel drive all-terrain tractor with a front dozer, while the Topland Small Coconut Farmers Agriculture Cooperative in Koronadal City received P250,000 worth of hand tractor with trailer, agricultural salt, and grass cutters.
Lenny Belle Gumboc, Rizal 3 SN Farmers MPC chairperson, on behalf of all the organization’s members, expressed her gratitude, stating that their support is a significant milestone in their journey towards building a climate-resilient farm.
“This tractor is more than just a machinery, it embodies the hope and support to the agricultural community, empowering the cooperative to face the challenges posed by the ever-changing climate,” she said.
On the other hand, Alberto Ancuna, chairman of Topland SCFA Cooperative, thanked the government and assured the implementers that the cooperative will properly handle and use the machinery in accordance with its approved policies as they are confident that the equipment would help them adapt to climate’s unpredictability.
The FMEs were provided through the DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project, which aims to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of agrarian reform communities as an adaptation measure towards climate change resiliency.
“After we secure their tenurial rights, the DAR provides them with the necessary support to make their farmlands become productive to provide them bigger income,” Ali said.
