The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently turned over P28 million worth of farm machineries to 15 farmers’ organizations in Cebu Province.
Assistant Regional Director Dr. Antonio A. del Socorro said the Common Service Facilities (CSFs) were procured under the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) to improve farm productivity and develop business entrepreneurship for the agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Del Socorro said that the farm machineries are expected to contribute in increasing incomes of farmer-members in Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) engaged in rice, corn and vegetable enhanced farming, and sugar block farming.
He added that the brand new CSFs were tested to ensure their efficiency, while farmers were trained on how to operate and maintain these farm machineries.
A total of three four-wheel drive120-horsepower tractors worth P 4,154,800, four four-wheel drive 90-horsepower tractors worth P3,078,400.00 each unit, seven hand tractors with implements worth P181,636 each unit, five units of corn sheller huskers worth P140,192 each unit, four rice threshers worth 170,048.32 each unit, four floating tillers worth P77,251.20 each unit, one shedder worth P 268,320, and two power tillers with cultivator worth P 135,083.52 each unit were delivered to the identified lead ARBO recipients.
Del Socorro said the recipients were ARBOs: two from Naga City, one in Carcar City, two in Toledo City, one in Aloguinsan, one in Sogod, one in Daanbantayan, one in Medellin, two in Bogo City, two in Barili, one in Moaboal, two in Asturias and one in Tuburan.
In Naga City, Alpaco Farmers and Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ALFABMPC) received one four-wheel drive 90-horsepower tractor with implements, and Agrarian Reform Community Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ARCBMPC) obtained farm machineries and facilities consisting of one hand tractor with implements and one Corn Sheller Husker with implements.
Carcar Communities and Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CCMPC) in Carcar City received one rice thresher, one floating tiller and one shredder.
In Toledo City, Canlumampao United Farmers Irrigators Association (CUFIA) received one floating tiller, and Carmen Farmers Association (CAFA) obtained one power tiller cultivator and one hand tractor with implements.
Esperanza Farmers Association (ESFA) in Aloguinsan received two hand tractors with implements and a corn sheller husker.
For typhoon Yolanda affected areas, Bitoon Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (BARBA) in Daanbantayan obtained a four-wheel drive 90-horsepower tractor with implements; while Don Virgilio Gonzales ARB Cooperative (DVG ARB Coop) in Medellin, Hacienda Filomena Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (HFARBA) in barangay Binabag, and Anonang Norte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (ANARBA) both located in Bogo City received a four-wheel drive 120-horsepower tractor with implements. The Cabalawan Small Farmers Association (CASFA) in Sogod obtained a power tiller cultivator and a four-wheel drive 90-horsepower tractor with implements.
In Barili, the Cabcaban Farmers for Rural Development (CFARD) received a corn sheller husker and a four-wheel drive 90-horsepower tractor with implements, while the Panaghugpong sa Nagpakabanang Guntinganong Magbabaol Multi-Purpose Coop (PANGUMA MPC) received two hand tractors with implements and a corn sheller husker.
The Tomonoy Farmers Association (TOMFAS) in Moalboal received a hand tractor with implements and a corn sheller husker.
In Asturias, the Bago Lunas United Communal Irrigators Association (BLUCIA) received a rice thresher and two floating tillers, while the Bag-ong Kusog sa Mag-uuma (BAKUMA) received a rice thresher and a floating tiller.
The Panaghugpong sa Molupyo sa Colonia (PAMOCO) in Tuburan received a hand tractor with implements and a corn sheller husker. (ROSANNA GAY S. VISITACION, Public Assistance and Media Relations Service, Department of Agrarian Reform)