QUEZON CITY -- Nine (9) agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Lanao del Norte are excited about the prospect of their future after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over to them a P2 million worth of farm machinery.

DAR Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang said these multi-million-peso worth of farm equipment include mobile corn shellers, grass cutters, sprayers, mobile rice mill, hand tractors, and a decorticating machine.

“These farm machines and equipment will service more than 500 farmers here. All these would make farming easier and faster for them. It will also greatly improve their yield and increase their income,” Macadindang said.

This equipment distribution is under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP), a DAR program that implements the provision of farm machines aimed to improve farm productivity and earning capabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in a sustainable manner through their organizations.

At the turn over ceremony, Rushdi Mindalano, DAR’s provincial agrarian reform program officer, explained that “one of the major reasons for bringing about the farm machinery equipment to our ARBs is to empower them and to bring about a classified sustainable farming system, thus, an assurance of improved living conditions for them.”

“We are encouraging the members of the ARBOs to be diligent in convincing farmers, especially ARBs to become members of farm cooperatives so they can be part of the government’s interventions,” Mindalano added.

The farm equipment was distributed to the following ARBOs: the 1. Bagong Silang ARC Marketing Cooperative, 2. Sanagi Marketing Cooperative, 3. Butadon Multipurpose Cooperative, 4. Upper Cabasagan Farmers’ Association, 5. Raw-an United Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative, 6. United Masibay Farmers’ Advocates’ Association, 7. Kahayag ARC Farmers’ Agriculture Cooperative, 8. Maganding SLP Association, and the 9. Tawagon Agriculture Cooperative.

Fred Bayquin, Chairperson of the Butadon Multi-Purpose Cooperative said the provision from DAR is an answered prayer.

“We are so grateful for these farm machines. As beneficiaries, we will do our part to boost farm production and income not just for our members but for our community, as well,” Bayquin said.

After the turnover of farm equipment, training sessions on the proper way of using and maintaining the equipment was conducted for the farmer-beneficiaries.  (DAR)