SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently provided two farming cooperatives in Surigao del Norte with rice combined harvesters (RCHs) under its Agrarian Reform Fund to boost productivity and income of farmer beneficiaries.

The Roxas Community Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Barangay Roxas, San Isidro, Surigao and Mabini Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Surigao City received the harvester machinery worth P3.55 million.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Crisostomo N. Bernaldez explained that this initiative aims to modernize farming practices, increase efficiency, and ultimately boost the income of the cooperatives and their members.

He said, “These harvesters, capable of performing six operations including gathering, transporting, reaping, threshing, cleaning, and bagging, can harvest up to 3 hectares per day, thus, reducing labor needs and post-harvest losses.”

Chairperson of Roxas Agrarian Reform Cooperative Rocky Aborro and Mabini Cooperative Board of Director Lisa A. Aclo expressed gratitude for the machinery, highlighting its potential to benefit local farmers and emphasizing how the RCHs will simplify harvesting and prevent crop spoilage.

Through the Combined Rice Harvester Program, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provides agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with access to modern rice combine harvesters, aiming to improve their rice production by reducing labor costs and increasing yield through mechanization.

It is usually distributed through farmer cooperatives, allowing them to rent out the equipment to other farmers as well, essentially boosting their income and streamlining farming operations. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DAR-SDN)

Source: https://pia.gov.ph/dar-gives-p3m-worth-of-farm-machinery-to-surigao-norte-cooperatives/