Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of South Cotabato has turned over ₱300,000.00 worth of various farm machinery to the Traankini Farmers Association (TKFA) in Brgy. Lamlahak, Lake Sebu, to increase their agricultural production and generate more income.
The farm machinery includes 2 units of abaca stripping machine, 10 units of 2-in-1 E-knapsack sprayer, and 30 pieces of shovel procured under the DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP). The project aims to enhance and sustain the agricultural productivity of agrarian reform communities as a measure to adapt to climate change resiliency.
TKFA President Allan Freyra, who received the farm machineries, accepted the challenge to maintain the project with the utmost care, as he thanked the DAR for the support.
“We thank the DAR for these machineries because it will be a big help in improving our crops, as we assure them of maintaining and ensuring its optimal condition,” he said.
A Certificate of Turnover and Trust Agreement was signed by the DAR and the TKFA representatives to formally convey the ownership and responsibility to the farmers’ organization, as witnessed by representatives from the local government of Lake Sebu.
DAR Assistant Regional Director Roldan A. Ali encouraged the recipients to enrich, take care of, and sustain the project so that other members and people in the community could benefit from it.
“The provision of various farm machinery is one of the nine priority goals of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, which includes the intervention on diversified sources of income among the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). This project aims to improve the agricultural productivity and profitability of ARBs by utilizing farm machinery and equipment effectively,” he said.
Ali also encouraged the members of the ARB organization to recruit more farmer-beneficiaries so they could also enjoy the benefits of the support services entrusted to them.
Lake Sebu Vice Mayor Liezel Isuga for her part, said the provision of farm machinery would be a big boost in the livelihood activities of the ARBs in the area.
