The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bataan has turned over PhP1.9 million worth of farm machinery and equipment (FME) and agri-inputs to four (4) agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) to elevate and improve the quality of life of 167 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 80 non-ARBs in the province.

DAR-Bataan provincial agrarian reform program officer II Engr. Emmanuel G. Aguinaldo said the initiative is part of the major crop-based block farm productivity enhancement project under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) and Sustainable Livelihood Disaster Affected Area (SLDAA) project of the DAR.

He disclosed that the FME worth Php1.750 million was awarded to Pantingan Farmers and Plant Nursery Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Barangay Quinawan Agriculture Cooperative, Mambog Farmers Association, and Organic Farmers Association of Abucay.

“The department procured one (1) 1 unit- 4-wheel drive tractor 35-40HP (Kubota brand), 1 unit- hand tractor with complete implements, 7HP diesel engine, cage wheel, disc plow, rubber tire combtooth and a trailer, 1 unit- generator, 2 units- diesel 2x2 engine, 2 units- four-stroke grass cutter, 1 unit- power sprayer with 100m hose, 1 unit- steel chainsaw with standard guide bar 20",“ Aguinaldo said.

He said that these farm machinery will be a great help especially at this time of the pandemic because it will enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of the ARBs.

“SLDAA Agri inputs worth Php 100,000.00 was also distributed to three (3) ARBOs, specifically the Barangay Quinawan Agriculture Cooperative, Mambog Farmers Association, and Organic Farmers Association of Abucay,” he added.

Aguinaldo disclosed that each ARBO is a recipient of various seedlings which include 10 sachet- siling panigang, 5 sachet-eggplant, 16 sachet-string beans, 7 sachet–squash,7 sachet-upo (bottle gourd), 18 pcs- seedling tray, 4 rolls-plastic mulch, 10 pcs-trelling twine, 116.67 kilograms 16-20-0 ammonia phosphate, 116.67 kgs- 14-14-14 complete fertilizer, 116.67 kgs- 0-0-60 muriate of phosphate, 4 packs- fungicide, 2 liters- insecticide and 1 liter- foliar.

Dante Torre, chairman of the Pantingan Farmers and Plant Nursery Agrarian Reform Coop. expressed his gratitude to the department on behalf of their association for exerting all efforts to help the farmers and ARBs despite all the hurdles brought by the pandemic.

The CRFPS is geared towards building the resiliency of agrarian reform communities nationwide to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of farmers’ organizations, by providing farm machinery and livelihood activities to uplift the lives of its members.

The SLSDAA program, on the other hand, aims to develop alternative livelihood or restoration and rehabilitation of the existing livelihood that were affected by the impacts of climate change.

Namahagi ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa Bataan ng PhP 1.9 milyong halaga ng mga makinarya at kagamitang pangsaka, agri-inputs sa apat (4) Agrarian Reform beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) upang maitaas at maiangat ang antas ng kabuhayan ng 167 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) at 80 hindi ARBs sa lalawigang ito.

Ayon kay DAR-Bataan provincial agrarian reform program officer II Engr. Emmanuel G. Aguinaldo ang inisyatiba ay bahagi ng proyektong major crop-based block farm productivity enhancement sa ilalim ng Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) at Sustainable Livelihood Disaster Affected Area (SLDAA) ng DAR.

Isiniwalat niya na ang FME na may kabuuang halaga na Php1.750 milyon ay iginawad sa Pantingan Farmers and Plant Nursery Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Barangay Quinawan Agriculture Cooperative, Mambog Farmers Association and Organic Farmers Association of Abucay.

“Ang kagawaran ay nagkaloob ng isang (1) yunit- 4-wheel drive tractor 35-40HP (Kubota brand), 1 yunit- hand tractor na may kumpletong gamit, 7HP diesel engine, cage wheel, disc plow, rubber tire combtooth at trailer, 1 yunit ng generator, 2 yunit - diesel 2x2 engine, 2 yunit ng four-stroke grass cutter, 1 yunit- power sprayer na may 100m hose, 1 yunit- steel chainsaw na may standard guide bar 20,” ani Aguinaldo.

Aniya ang mga makinaryang pangbukid na ito ay malaking tulong lalo na sa panahon ng pandemiya dahil mapapahusay at maipagpapatuloy nito ang pagsasaka ng mga ARBs.

“Ang SLDAA agri inputs na nagkakahalaga ng Php 100,000.00, ay ipinamahagi din sa tatlong (3) ARBOs, partikular sa Barangay Quinawan Agriculture Cooperative, Mambog Farmers Association at Organic Farmers Association of Abucay,” dagdag niya.

Ipinahayag ni Aguinaldo na ang bawat ARBO ay tumanggap ng iba’t ibang binhi tulad ng 10 pakete ng siling panigang, 5 pakete ng talong, 16 pakete ng sitaw, 7 pakete ng kalabasa, 7 pakete ng upo,18 piraso ng seedling tray, 4 na rolyo ng plastic mulch, 10 piraso ng trelling twine, 116.67 kilo ng 16-20-0 ammonia phosphate, 116.67 kilo ng 14-14-14 complete fertilizer, 116.67 kilo ng 0-0-60 muriate of phosphate, 4 pakete ng fungicide, 2 litro ng insecticide at 1 lito ng foliar.

Nagpahayag naman si Dante Torres , Chairman ng Pantingan Farmers and Plant Nursery Agrarian Reform Coop. ng kanyang pasasalamat sa kagawaran sa ngalan ng kanilang asosasyon dahil sa pagsisikap na tulungan ang mga magsasaka at ARBs sa kabila ng lahat ng mga hadlang na dala ng pandemya.

Ang CRFPS ay nakatuon sa layunin 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 pagkakaloob sa kanila ng mga makinarya at mga aktibidad pangkabuhayan upang mapataas ng kanilang ani at kita upang maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga kasapi nito.

Ang programang SLSDAA naman ay naglalayong bumuo ng alternatibong kabuhayan o pagpapanumbalik at rehabilitasyon ng kasalukuyang kabuhayan na naapektuhan ng mga epekto ng pagbabago ng klima.