QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agrarian (DAR) in the province of Cebu has provided a capability training program to some thirty (30) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) belonging to the Ipil Farmers Association (IFA) in the town of Carmen to mitigate the effect of climate change through organic farming.

OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Louie Naranjo said the 30 IFA farmer-members completed their Organic Farming Technology, a livelihood training program of the DAR being implemented under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) - Sustainable Livelihood Project to benefit the ARBs.

“The livelihood training extended to the association will be of great help in equipping the ARBs with knowledge and skills on organic vegetable farming and it is also meant to help increase their productivity and farm income,” Naranjo said.

The training was also made possible in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit of Carmen.

IFA President Evangeline  Entero extended her heartfelt gratitude to DAR for the training given to them.

“I am truly grateful to the DAR for always giving us such assistance. Since we started this cooperative, the department has given us land and provided support services to strengthen our association," Entero said.

Meanwhile, Carmen Mayor Martin Villamor congratulated the ARBs for having DAR as their partner in their lives.

“With the onslaught of the covid-19 pandemic, the farmers play a vital role in supplying us with foods and proving them training such as this is very beneficial to all of us,” Villamor said.

Other officials present during the graduation ceremony were Ipil Barangay Captain Almeniano Quimco, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Alan Tudtud, DAR Program Beneficiaries Development Division – Sustainable Livelihood Support Program Coordinator Judy Maratas, Agrarian Reform Program Technologists Ma. Hilda Cadigal and Fiel Roz, the development facilitators of DAR’s Carmen cluster; and LGU Carmen Municipal and Barangay Councilors. (DAR)