(EV ESPIRITU / INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines— The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday announced that it provided a cattle production starter kit worth P1.07 million and farm machinery and equipment (FME) worth P2 million to eight agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) organizations in Masbate.
According to the DAR, the starter kits include feed pellet machines, feed millers, pulverizer mills, tri-bikes, water pumps, mechanical weighing scales, rototillers, hand tractors with implements, motorcycles with hauler sidecars, grass cutters, rice threshers, rice reapers, floating tillers, coconut de-huskers, and cattle.
Through this livelihood assistance, DAR aims to bolster the cattle production and fattening business of the 369 ARBs set to benefit from the starter kits and FMEs.
“As they expand into cattle production and fattening, I am hopeful that these organizations will effectively use the equipment and sustain their newfound business,” said Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Herald Tambal.
According to the DAR, this aligns with the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Support (SLS) under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) program, which aims to strengthen agricultural productivity against the ravages of climate change.
The following groups received the DAR’s livelihood support: Tambobo-San Andres Farmers’ Association (TAMSANDRESS FARMERS); Daraga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (DARBO); Bangad Multi-purpose Cooperative; MCFC Igang ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Miaga Pag-asa ARC Cooperative; Multi-Purpose Cooperative of San Vicente Uson Farmers (MPCSVUF); Jamorawon Multi-Purpose Cooperative; and Imelda Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (IARCC).