Farmers of Sultan Kudarat received new equipment and free fertilizer

Philippines’s Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has significantly bolstered agricultural operations in Sultan Kudarat by providing local agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with essential farming machinery and inputs. This initiative is part of the DAR’s commitment to enhancing farm productivity through the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project for Major Crop-Based Farming (CRFPSP-MCBF).

During a recent ceremony in New Pangasinan, Isulan, members of the Green Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Green MPC) received equipment valued at approximately PHP 1.5 million ($26,000). This allocation includes a hand tractor with a trailer, a floating tiller, a power tiller, a traveling rice mill, and a 4WD tractor (40Hp). Additionally, the DAR provided critical agricultural inputs, including 50 sacks of complex fertilizer (14-14-14) and 50 sets each of shovels and lagaraws (a type of heavy cutting tool), collectively worth PHP 175,000 ($3,000).

Lobin Biñas, Chairman of Green MPC, expressed his gratitude for the support, which he believes will significantly improve their agricultural practices and sustain their livelihoods. “We are profoundly thankful to the DAR for this assistance. We are committed to using these resources wisely and ensuring they contribute effectively to our community’s agricultural productivity,” Biñas stated.

H. Roldan A. Ali, Al-hajj, Assistant Regional Director of DAR, highlighted the importance of the cooperative’s role in maintaining the new equipment and utilizing it to generate further support from the DAR. Ali commended the cooperative’s efforts in adopting good practices that qualify them for continuous assistance, which is crucial for enhancing their operational capabilities and resilience against climate change.

The ceremony was also attended by members of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) in Sultan Kudarat, who pledged to oversee the implementation of DAR projects in the region, ensuring that the provided equipment and inputs are effectively utilized to improve agricultural outputs in the area.