Pangasinan farmers get P42.4-M farm machines, equipment from DAR
By Jel Santos
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has provided agricultural equipment worth P42.4 million to 13,609 farmer-members from 109 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
In a statement, DAR said the move is to improve farm production and profitability in the area.
The turnover ceremony of the farm machines and equipment was held at the provincial Training and Development Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
In his speech during the turnover of the farm machines and equipment, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III underscored the importance of adopting modern machinery and advanced technology to boost the yield of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
“These farm machineries would make farming easier and faster for the farmer-members of the ARBOs. It will also greatly improve their yield and increase their income,” he said.
According to Estrella, the farm machines were granted as a "equipment grant" and would be used by the farm group as a business asset. User fees will be used to operate and maintain the agricultural equipment.
He added that this program will give the companies the tools they need to expand by engaging in agribusiness ventures.
As such, the DAR chief urged the members of ARBOs to be diligent in convincing farmers, especially ARBs to become members of farm cooperatives to increase its membership.
“The DAR can only provide additional support services to an organization if there is a growing ARB membership that will justify the need to deliver more farm machineries and equipment,” he noted.
Maria Ana Francisco, DAR Ilocos regional director, said the farm machines were provided as part of the agency's Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) project.
Francisco stated that the agrarian reform department would offer new agricultural technologies to ARBs through SuRe ARCs in order to help them create farm cooperatives and, ultimately, boost farm production.
The DAR said the SuRe ARCs project provided the following: 10 tractors, 90 brush cutters, 26 hand tractors, 10 hauling trucks, 144 knapsack sprayers, 22 tiller/cultivators, one refrigerated van, eight rice reapers and 100 water pumps.
The Sure ARCs project is a multifaceted DAR program that attempts to boost agricultural output and revenue of ARBs by implementing various farm mechanization projects and providing support services.