DAR-North Cotabato turns-over P4.2-M worth of farm machines to ARBOs 

KIDAPAWAN CITY - In an effort to boost the productivity and profitability of the sugarcane industry stakeholders in North Cotabato, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-North Cotabato) turned over on July 9 about P4.2 million worth of farm machineries to farmers organizations.

Engr. Reynaldo C. Anfone, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, identified the beneficiaries as Kidama Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (KARBA) and Kibudtungan Sugarcane Farmers Association (KSFA) in the towns of Matalam and Carmen, respectively.

Anfone elaborated that the two ARBOs each received 90-horsepower farm tractors with implements such as mounted disc plow, trailing harrow, and heavy duty trailer.

“We, in the DAR really understand the plight of the farmers. The need for mechanization is very crucial and urgent these days because we often hear complaints on labour scarcity and high labour cost,” Anfone said.

“Hence, DAR is also striving to address climate change and the socio-economic concerns affecting our agrarian reform beneficiaries,” Anfone added.

During the turnover program, Anfone emphasized that the organizations must take advantage of the farm equipment to improve land preparation practices and to increase income.

“With the scarcity of labour and draft animals, farm machines like the tractor will provide greater ease for the farmers during land preparation,” Anfone said, adding that “This can be used to serve not only their barangay but could also extend its service to its neighboring barangays and municipalities.”

Anfone also said: “This will entail more opportunities and earnings for the organizations.”

“An answered prayer,” said Joib Valencia, KARBA president, after receiving the DAR-North Cotabato interventions. He said having to rent a tractor from nearby farmers’ organization was a struggle.

“We are thankful that we already have a tractor to till our lands more efficiently. We will no longer depend on renting from outsiders. Instead, we can now serve as service provider too,” Valencia said.

“Farmers in our barangay, especially the members of our association could no longer experience delay since the tractor is readily available,” Valencia said.

In behalf of his organization, Valencia have committed to ensure proper maintenance and operation of the tractor.

He also assured DAR officials that policies were already in-placed to guide the association in managing the machine.

The provision of farm tractor is under “The Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Project (CRFPP),” a DAR program implemented in ARCs and Non-ARCs with identified vulnerability to the climate change impacts.

The project aims to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity and livelihood in agrarian communities as adaptation towards resiliency and impacts of climate change.