TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the Cagayan Valley Region turned-over P22.3 million worth of farm machineries to eight agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) to enhance and sustain their farm productivity and income.
DAR Secretary Atty. John R. Castriciones personally turned-over the keys of the five six-wheeler hauling trucks to the members of the Bugnay Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Tuao town; Mabuhay Agri-crops MPC of Piat town; Bantay Farmers Producers Coop of Solana town; Malassi Lake Producers Coop of Cabagan town; and St. Vincent Parish MPC of Dupax del Sur town.
Castriciones also awarded the key of the sugarcane grabber and loader to the members of the Del Pilar MPC of San Mariano town while two units of mechanical cane juicer with complete accessories were also given to the members of the Villarey ARB Coop of Piat and Roma Sur MPC of Enrile town.
Each hauling truck is worth P3.9 million while each mechanical cane juicer and sugarcane grabber and loader is worth P222,000 and P2.4 million, respectively.
Sugarcane Block Farming
The eight ARBOs are also recipients of the DAR’s Sugarcane Block Farming (SBF) project which aims to increase farmers’ income as well as to boost the country’s sugarcane production.
The SBF project seeks to improve the productivity of sugarcane farms that are collectively managed by cooperatives. The project also refers to the consolidation of the management of small farms of less than five hectares into a bigger farm of at least 30 hectares for farm productivity improvement.
It also involves the conduct of agri-extension and business development services and the provision of various farm machineries to support the profitable production of sugarcane in the block farm.
‘A good start of the year’
Castriciones told the farmer-beneficiaries that the turn-over activity is a good start of the year for the ARBOs.
While there was a short delay in the awarding of these farm machineries, the Secretary, however, assured the beneficiaries that the agency will continuously support and provide appropriate services to all its clients.
He also told the beneficiaries that the farm machineries are covered with insurance.
Use and management of the farm machineries
Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between DAR and the President of each ARBO beneficairy, the awarded farm equipment shall use primarily to service the needs of all members of the ARBOs.
ARBO-recipients shall also maintain the condition of said farm machineries by replacing worn-out parts and undergoing regular service check-ups.
ARBOs are also required to provide secured and appropriate storage facility or shed for the farm machineries and must designate an ARB member or hire personnel trained in operating such equipment.
Failure to comply with the agreement, the DAR shall revoke the grant and the ARBO-beneficiary shall reimburse the DAR the acquisition cost of the farm machineries without prejudice to the right of the agency to pursue appropriate criminal and/or civil actions against the ARBO-beneficiary and its officers.
‘Thankful and hopeful’
In behalf of the eight ARBO recipients, Loreto M. Pacay, manager of the Mabuhay Agri-crop MPC, assured the Secretary and the officials of DAR Region 2 that they will take good care of the farm machineries awarded to them.
“Rest assured that these equipment will not only benefit the ARBO recipients but also the entire community where the ARBO belongs through the income generated out of these,” Pacay said.
He added that these equipment will surely enhance their enterprise by reducing the hauling costs of their products from their respective farms to sugarcane milling companies. (ALM/PIA-2
