The Department of Agrarian Reform distributes farm machinery and equipment to a group of farmers in Northern Samar. (Photo courtesy of DAR)
MANILA, Philippines — A group of farmers in Northern Samar received farm machinery and equipment from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
In a statement released Monday, the DAR said that it handed out the machinery and equipment to the Cervantes Integrated Organic Farmer Association (CIOFA) in a bid to increase output in their farmlands.
“The agency provides different support services to help the farmers uplift their lives. The agrarian reform beneficiary organization members only need to be active participants in these projects so that assistance from the government will not be put to waste,” Rosemarie Balanquit, DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, said in the same statement.
To assist the farmers in establishing sustainable organic vegetable production, the following farm equipment and tools were given to them: 1 unit of chariot 175 with roof and windshield; 2 units of grass cutter with complete accessories; 3 units of the 16-liter capacity manual sprayer; 10 units of mattocks; 10 units of grab hoe; 10 units of spade; 10 units of rake; 10 units of hand trowel; 20 units of garden bolo; 15 pairs of rubber boots; and five units of plastic mulch and seeds.
For his part, CIOFA president Nestor Esplago thanked the agency for the different forms of help and urged the members to continue actively contributing to their organization.
The project is carried out through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty program, a government initiative that seeks to reduce hunger, guarantee food security, and establish sustainable agriculture in the nation, Balanquit. –Kristelle Razon, Inquirer.net trainee