Laguna farmers receive greenhouse facility from DAR

Farmer-members of the Galalan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GARBs MPC) in Brgy. Galalan, Pangil, Laguna, received a greenhouse facility from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The project aims to help agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and members of ARB organizations (ARBOs) to develop their production despite the problems they are facing regarding climate change.

Cupido Gerry Asuncion, CALABARZON regional director said the grant was sourced from the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) and implemented under the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) program of the DAR.

“The SuRe ARCs program is in line with the food security program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and forms part of the major goals of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to introduce modern farm technologies and provide modern farm equipment to the ARBs,” Asuncion said.

He disclosed that because of the unpredictable weather system in the area, the GARBs MPC was selected as the recipient of the greenhouse facility.

“The greenhouse, which has a total floor area of 204 square meters, was designed to be a multifunctional facility for producing high-value crops,” he said.

Cupido said the facility is expected to produce 120 kilograms of lettuce in a single cycle with a 30 to 40-day time duration. He said that seedling trays, seeds, potting media, and seedling tables were added to the facility.

“This would also translate to more productivity and higher earnings for farmers,” he said.

Marlon C. Talavera, chairman of GARBs MPC expressed his appreciation to the DAR for choosing their cooperative as the project recipient.

Aside from lettuce, GARBs MPC farmers also produce arugula, and other vegetables, which are highly prolific and fast-growing but are sensitive to drastic changes in weather conditions.