FARM MACHINERY. One of the farm machinery distributed by the Department of Agrarian Reform-Camarines Sur II to five agrarian reform beneficiary groups for the first quarter of 2024. Farmers are expected to receive a boost in their production and income through the machinery. (Photo courtesy of DAR-Camarines Sur II)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Camarines Sur II expects higher production and more income for five agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) after it distributed nine farm machinery and equipment worth PHP930,000.
In an interview on Friday, Monica Camacho, DAR-Camarines Sur II senior agrarian reform program officer, said the ARBOs can have additional income by allowing their members and non-members to rent the machinery.
"With the different kinds of farm machinery and equipment, we are expecting at least a 5-percent increase in their total production. Aside from that, it will expedite the labor, and decrease harvest losses and production delays. For the additional income, under the memorandum of agreement between DAR and the ARBO, the policy system and procedure allowed them to lease the machinery to members or non-members as income-generating," Camacho said.
She noted that usage fees would be lower for members of the organizations.
Among the farm machinery provided by the DAR under its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support program for the first quarter of 2024 were hand tractors, rototillers, rice threshers and corn shellers.
Camacho said an ARBO could earn PHP400-PHP500 per day as a rental fee for a hand tractor and PHP20-PHP25 per sack for a corn sheller.
She said the distribution of the equipment was directed by their central office to empower the ARBOs in the region.
The recipients were the Pugay Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization of San Jose town; Casuray Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization of Magarao; Hanawan Farmers Association of Ocampo; Cawaynan Farmers Association of Tinambac; and Tabiguian Farmers and Fisherfolks Association of Caramoan, all in Camarines Sur. (PNA)
