QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is mobilizing its major stakeholders to enhance their knowledge on agro-enterprise development as it seeks to create a sound marketing strategy for farmers’ products in its bid to transform members of farmers’ organizations into agri-entrepreneurs.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III stressed the need to provide agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) the technical know-how in farming and in business management to increase their harvests while developing their confidence in dealing with various establishments for farm inputs and outputs.

Estrella said a refresher course for agro-enterprise development is set for DAR staff and representatives of various local government units and agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations with the end in view of developing a well-coordinated working relationship between and among them.

“We need to bring all hands on deck to improve the food supply in the country,” Estrella said.

In a Special Order signed by DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Atty. Milagros Isabel Cristobal said that the course would provide the ARBs with technical guidance and institutional support to sustain their livelihood recovery through product consolidation and collective marketing of their members’ products.

Cristobal said 105 DAR staff and representatives of the various local governments and ARB’s organizations are set to participate in the course, “a blended activity where simultaneous separate face-to-face sessions will be held in various locations.”

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of better coordination mechanisms between the national and local governments in the area of food supply. (DAR)