30 agrarian-farmers graduate anew from farm biz school

Amidst the challenging times brought about by the national health emergency due to COVID-19, a total of 30 agrarian reform beneficiaries of Villaflor Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Association (VARBA) in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte graduated from Farm Business School in a graduation ceremony held last December 2, 2020.

The graduates have successfully hurdled the weekly sessions of over 25 modules. The business school started last September 3, 2020 and had their last class last November 25, 2020.

The Farm Business School is one of the Partnership Development Programs of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) implemented by the DAR provincial office in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN).

In her message, VARBA Chairperson Jenita P. Larong acknowledged the efforts that DAR-SDN has extended to MABARBECO and could not contain her excitement and happiness.

“In behalf of VARBA, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to DAR Surigao del Norte for their unwavering support. The knowledge and skills that we have acquired because of this farm business school will surely be of great help to us as farmers and future entrepreneurs,” she said.

For her part, Ma. Elizabeth L. De Guzman, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II of DAR-SDN, stressed to the farmer-graduates that the farm business school had already taught them entrepreneurial and marketing skills.

“I challenge you to apply what you have learnt. And I am hoping that in due time you can produce in volume and able to link your products with better markets and forge profitable agri-business linkages,” PARPO De Guzman challenged the farmer-graduates. Also in the same occasion Hon. Chandru T. Bonite, Mayor of Gigaquit, challenged VARBA to apply what they have learnt from the farm business school.

“I can only assure the officers and members of VARBA that the local government unit of Gigaquit will always support you on this endeavour and your future ventures” said Mayor Bonite.

FBS aims to help farmers learn how to make their farming enterprises and overall farm operations profitable and able to respond to market demands in their local environment where they can work in small groups at their own pace.

-by Daryll Tumbaga, PIO Surigao del Norte