Photo: DAR Regional Director Leo VIllareal

Trento, Agusan del Sur—More than P37-million worth of assistance and interventions will be extended by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to increase the productivity and income of farmers and their families in this province.

The bulk of the assistance comprises of rice processing complex, farm machineries and equipment set to be distributed to agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in the municipalities of Veruela, Trento, Bunawan and Santa Josefa by DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones on March 9, 2021.

Rice processing complex and farm machines comprises of multi-pass rice mill, warehouse, recirculating mechanical dryer, solar dryer, transformer, mist polisher, farm tractor, hand tractor, rice combine harvester, collapsible portable dryer, weighing scale, moisture meter, and wing/aluminum hauling.

DAR-Caraga regional director Leomides R. Villareal said the rice processing complex and farm machines aims to improve farm productivity and increase the net income of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of Agusan del Sur.

Aside from the turnover of rice processing complex and machineries, the DAR will distribute 4,122 hectares of land, comprising of 2,966 certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 2,777 farmer-beneficiaries located in 14 Municipalities of  Agusan del Sur.

Villareal said the project is expected to greatly impact the security of land tenure of the ARBs in the area.