By Camille C. Nagaño/PIA Region 3
CABANATUAN CITY — Two Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) in Nueva Ecija received farm machinery from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The grant is under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project which aims to help farmers with their production.
DAR OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Anna Marie Guillermo said the awarding of machinery aims to enable farmers to adapt to climate change and keep up with the modernization in agriculture.
“This is a grant that farmers did not spend on anything, which also includes training to teach them the proper use and maintenance of their received machinery,” Guillermo furthered.
Recipients include the Conversion Special ARC Credit Cooperative from Pantabangan town which received a 40 horsepower, 4-wheel drive farm tractor with trailer and complete accessories, and a unit of hand tractor with implements worth P1.5 million.
It will benefit about 53 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) members covering 103.58 hectares of farmlands.
Meanwhile, the Cama Juan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) from San Antonio town got a 50 horsepower, 4-wheel drive farm tractor with trailer and complete accessories worth P1.5 million.
It will benefit around 90 ARB members covering 191.50 hectares of farmlands.
Cama Juan MPC Chairperson Jay Wilson Basilio expressed his gratitude to DAR for the machinery.
“This is a big help in our area, particularly in land preparation during planting season,” he said.
Apart from the members of the cooperative, other farmers from neighboring barangays can also borrow the tractor.
The awarding of machinery is part of the commemorative activity in line with the 36th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
