DAR Cebu, NegOr state university ink deal

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Cebu provincial office has partnered with the Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) for the conduct of agrarian reform community connectivity and economic support services (Arccess) project that will benefit 258 sugarcane farmers in Medellin and Bogo towns in northern Cebu and 780 rice farmers in Toledo City and the towns of Asturias and Pinamungajan in southwest Cebu.

Provincial Agrarian Reform  Officer Isaganie Yee and Norsu president Dr.  Henry Sojor signed  the agreement last April 27 at the DAR Cebu conference room in Cebu City, witnesssed by DAR Regional Director Rodolfo Inson and Norsu vice president for Planning Research Extension and International Linkages Dr. Peter Dayot.

Inson  said  Arccess is the brainchild of DAR Secretary Gil de los Reyes that extends assistance to the agrarian reform beneficiaries through land preparation, harvesting, logistics and marketing.

To effectively implement the project, Yee said the DAR tied up with the state universities and colleges that could lend their expertise in conducting the needs and design assessments of the project.

Under the agreement, Norsu will determine the factors that would help improve agricultural yield and eventually increase the income of farmers groups,  namely, Cebu United Farmers Irrigators’ Association and Bulahan Canlumampao multipurpose cooperative in Toledo, the Pundok sa Mag-uuma and Bago Lunas United Irrigators’ Association in Asturias and the Anopog Paglaum Irrigators’ Association in Pinamungajan.

The other Arccess project is the proposed enhanced sugarcane production training and development to be implemented by the San Jose Farmers multipurpose cooperative and  Canhabagat United Farmers Association in Medellin, Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma ug Mamumuo sa Programang Agraryo, Anonang Norte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and  Hacienda Felomina Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association in Bogo.