FIFTY farmer-beneficiaries of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) recently graduated as Farmer-Technicians to boost their farms’ productivity as well as to contribute to the development of agriculture the community.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO) Christianne C. Suguitan welcomed the newly graduates as she considered them as the new partner of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in achieving progress in the countryside.
Prior to the conferment of the Farmer-Technicians (FT) status, the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) attended a year-long training on rice, corn, organic hog and vermi-compost production, crop diversification, farm production management and common cervice facility business management, practicum or hands-on exercises on rice production through the established Technology Demonstration Farm (TDF). TDF served as ARBs’ experiential learning laboratory and series of coaching and mentoring on crop production topics including micro teaching.
“Your knowledge in farming would definitely improve your economic lives and we are certain that lending your hand to your fellow farmers will be a big help to boost their farms too,” Suguitan said.
The ARBs showed their commitment and willingness as FTs by crafting a sustainability plan that embodies their activities for the next cropping season and a letter of commitment to extend their learnings to other members of their respective agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) and agrarian reform communities (ARCs) residents.
The newly graduates came from eight (8) ARBOs of the first and second district of Ilocos Sur, which include Ayusan- Norte Pantay ARC multi-purpose cooperative (MPC) of Vigan City, Nansuagao Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Caoayan, and Metro Nambaran Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Bankagan MPC of Narvacan, Bagnus MPC and Macati Rang-ay Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative, both of Sta Maria and Solid East MPC and Metro Cabaroan MPC, both of San Esteban Ilocos Sur.
This project is implemented under the Agri-Technology Agri –Extension Services (AES) of the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS). Costales Nature Farms (CNF) is the project’s service provider.
To date, 300 ARBs had been declared FTs of the project. The first 50 FTs were declared in 2014 during the 1st batch of ARCCESS, 200 ARBs were conferred the same status in 2015. The AES –ARCCESS project is one of DAR’s activities to enhance the farm productivity, increase income and empower the ARBs of the ARCs. (by: Carina R. Muňoz)
Posted and Edited by Peter Paul Duran
