DAR soon to turn-over P19-M farm implements to improve productivity of East Visayas ARB groups

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA-8)
March 4, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform in Eastern Visayas is set to turn over very soon, more than P19 million worth of farm implements to over about 60 agrarian reform beneficiary-organizations across Eastern Visayas.

“The more than P19 million worth of farm implements are now at the DAR Regional Office ready for distribution to intended beneficiaries,” Regional Director Eliasem Castillo disclosed.

The multi-million pesos worth of modern farm equipments include 37 hand tractors, 30 threshers, 10 cultivators, 8 water pumps, 6 flat-bed driers, 2 reapers, 2 mechanical trans-planters, and 2 combine harvesters.

With these equipment provided to the ARBOs, Director Eliasem Castillo expects a higher yield from their awarded lots in the succeeding agricultural years and eventually an increased income resulting to a better quality life, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and employment generation in the rural areas under President Benigno Aquino’s 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan.

Director Castillo explained that these are the results of the needs assessment conducted last year by the three State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) commissioned by the Department to determine the factors that would turn these ARBOs into more viable agri-enterprise farmer organizations under the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS).

ARCCESS, according to Director Castillo, is DAR’s new strategy which was conceptualized by Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes in order to enhance the delivery of support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries under the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Under this new strategy, DAR assists the ARBOs become productive and competitive agri-entrepreneurs by providing the latter with the necessary farm equipment and with the help of professional service providers.

Director Castillo said that early in 2012, DAR entered into an agreement with the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman, Northern Samar; the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte; and the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in Sogod, Southern Leyte to validate the capabilities of the identified ARBOs in the region to venture such kind of activity and determine the factors that would help improve agricultural production and increase income.

Moreover, the SUCs were required to present plausible and feasible plans which will become the basis of DAR in the provision of the necessary common service facilities that would make the ARB organization a more viable agri-enterprise.

Director Castillo informed that initially, DAR has identified and approved for funding under ARCESS, one project proposal for every congressional district involving 60 ARBOs throughout the region.

Said project proposals include rice, organic vegetable, sugarcane and cassava production and marketing.