Members of two farmers’ organizations in North Cotabato received post-harvest facilities with the combined amount of Php1,210,000.00 from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to boost the agricultural products of farmers in this province.
The facilities, distributed under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP), consist of 4-units of rubber sheets hang-dryers given to Banisilan Rubber Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative of Banisilan, and a unit of corn sheller for Kitubod Farmers Association of Libungan.
CRFPS aims to build the resiliency of agrarian reform communities nationwide to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of farmers’ organizations, by increasing their yield and income to uplift the lives of its members.
The DAR turns over 4 units of rubber sheets hang-dryers to the Banisilan Rubber Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative of Banisilan and a unit of corn sheller for the Kitubod Farmers Association of Libungan.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Evangeline Bueno said the rubber sheet hang-dryers and corn sheller are designed to address specific post-harvest challenges faced by these farmers.
“We provide our farmers with interventions that elevate their operational efficiency and quality of produce while addressing the pressing challenges in adapting to climate change,” Bueno said.
Banisilan Rubber Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative Manager Marvin Nadala said that with this new facility, they can now have an additional 90 tons of drying capacity per month which will make their rubber sheets dry more uniformly and quickly.
“This will also enhance the quality of our rubber and make it more competitive in the market,” he added.
Similarly, the Kitubod Farmers Association, which has long struggled with the labor-intensive process of shelling corn, expressed optimism about the new equipment.
“This corn sheller will save us countless hours of manual work and increase our productivity. It is a game-changer for us, enabling us to process more corn efficiently and focus on expanding our farming activities,” said Association President Miguel Tomarlas.
Mga magsasaka ng North Cotabato tumanggap ng P1.2-M post-harvest facilities
Nakatanggap ang dalawang organisasyon ng mga magsasaka sa North Cotabato ng post-harvest facilities ng may kabuuang halaga na Php1,210,000.00 mula Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) upang palakasin ang mga produktong agrikultural ng mga magsasaka sa lalawigang ito.
Ang mga pasilidad, na ipinamahagi sa ilalim ng Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP), ay binubuo ng 4-yunit ng rubber sheets hang-dryers na ibingay sa Banisilan Rubber Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative ng Banisilan, at isang corn sheller para sa Kitubod Farmers Association ng Libungan.
Layunin ng CRFPS na patatagin ang mga agrarian reform communities sa buong bansa upang mapahusay at mapanatili ang produksiyon sa agrikultura ng mga organisasyon ng mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng pagtaas ng kanilang ani at kita upang maiangat ang buhay ng mga kasapi nito.
Ayon kay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Evangeline Bueno ang rubber sheet hang-dryers at corn sheller ay nakadisensyo upang matugunan ang mga suliranin na kinahaharap ng mga magsasaka, partikular sa post-harvest.
“Ibinibigay namin sa mga magsasaka ang mga tulong upang maitaas ang kanilang pagiging epektibo sa pagpapatakbo ng kanilang operasyon at kalidad ng kanilang mga produkto habang tinutugunan ang hamon sa pag-angkop sa pagbabago-bago ng klima,” ani Bueno.
Sinabi ni Banisilan Rubber Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative Manager Marvin Nadala na ang bagong pasilidad ay makapagbibigay ng karagdagang 90 toneladang kapasidad sa pagpapatuyo kada buwan na dahilan upang mas marami, mas pantay at mabilis ang kanilang pagpapatuyo ng rubber sheet.
“Mas mapapahusay din nito ang kalidad ng aming mga goma at gawin itong mas competitive sa merkado,” dagdag niya.
Gayundin, ang Kitubod Farmers Association, na matagal ng nagtitiis sa mahabang proseso ng pagkikiskis sa mais ay nagpakita ng positibing pananaw sa bagong kagamitan.
“Makatitipid kami ng maraming oras sa corn sheller na ito at madaragdagan ang aming pagiging produktibo. Ito ay isang game-changer para sa amin, upang mas mabilis naming makikiskis ang mga mais at makapagfo-focus kami sa pagpapalawak ng iba pang aktibidad sa aming sakahan,” ani Association President Miguel Tomarlas.