First marketing center for Sultan Kudarat farmers

Rodolfo Alburo, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II of the Department of Agrarian Reform (left) together with Provincial Planning and Development Officer Engr. Romeo Zaragosa of the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat cut the ribbon symbolizing the formal turn-over of the Agrarian Reform Information and Marketing Center (AIM-C) to Sultan Kudarat Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Network on February 18, 2016, in Tacurong City. Witnessing is Jolly Marquez, SKARBNet Chairman (partially seen at the back of Engr. Zaragosa). The AIM-C is the first marketing center for farmers in the province and the last project under the phase III of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project. 

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently turned over the first marketing center to Sultan Kudarat Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Network (SKARBNet) in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Rodolfo Alburo  said the Agrarian Reform Information and Marketing Center (AIM-C) project serves as a venue where farmers could bring their produce for marketing.

He said the facility worth Php 19. 9-million equipped with motor pool, office space and conference room, display area for processed or produced products and storage area for the consolidated products such as rice, corn, oil palm and sugar cane.

He added the faciltity will also serve as the garage for two dump trucks, one 90-HP tractor, and other common service facilities given by DAR to the SKARBNet,  and  venue for trainings and for other activities for the good of the farmers.

Rodolfo Alburo, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, gives his message to the attending guests during the turn-over of the Agrarian Information and Marketing Center (AIM-C) on February 18, 2016, in Tacurong City.


SKARBNET Chairman Jolly Marquez said that they would use the facility to improve the plight of their fellow farmers. “We are doing what we can at the moment to help our fellow farmers,” Marquez said.

He added that they are offering fertilizers and other farm inputs at affordable prices. He also committed to manage farm machineries by renting them out at lower fees and operate the AIM-C facility properly.

AIM-C is the last project of DAR  through its Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) now on its third phase implementation, in collaboration with the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat.(Jose Jemuel Dael with Cherry de Castro - DAR-SK)