THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over yesterday almost P17 million worth of common service facilities (CSFs) to four agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbo’s) in Negros Occidental to further capacitate farmers in boosting production.
The four recipients are Minaba Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City; Hacienda Esperanza ARB Association in Barangay Nagasi, La Carlota City; and Hacienderos Agrarian Reform Cooperative and Binubuhan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association in Barangays Tabunan and Binubuhan in Bago City, respectively.
These cooperatives and associations are comprised of 1,192 total members, of which 208 are ARBs.
They received one unit of 120 horsepower four-wheel drive tractor, trailing harrow, disc plow, and trailer.
All in all, the ARBOs received 16 units of service facilities from the agency.
Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong from Support Services led the turnover rites held at Barangay Tabunan, said the distribution of CSFs is through the agency’s sugar block farm project.
Bistoyong said sugar block farm is a relatively new project which the agency has embarked on several years ago mainly to achieve economies of scale.
“By that, we mean a bigger production level by consolidating small pieces of land distributed to our ARBs,” she said, adding that it applies the concept that “if the farmers are given the chance to manage collectively, they can be able to produce more.”
DAR records showed that of the total 92 sugar block farms in the country, Negros Occidental still has the highest, with 36.
Under the sugar block farm program, the agency is putting up the techno demo farm and nursery.
Bistoyong said that out of the different varieties tested in the techno demo farm, they chose the best one that yielded the highest level of production.
These varieties will then be multiplied through the established nursery.
The seedling that will be harvested from the nursery will now be transplanted in the 30 to 50 hectares of land subjected to sugar block farming.
Citing the accomplishment of Hacienda Malaga Cuenca Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Macarben) in La Castellana town, Bistoyong said the organization in one hectare portion of its farm was already able to increase yield by 34 tons per hectare, from 62 tons per hectare to 96 tons per hectare.
“Thus, sugar block farming is a very effective strategy in achieving and obtaining a higher level of production. They really have the potentials to produce more by managing their farms collectively,” she added.
The turn-over ceremony was also attended by DAR officials from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental, Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo, and representatives of other ARBOs in the southern part of the province.
Bistoyong said that service facilities are given as grant in a way, but with equity for maintenance, and these can be taken back by the DAR if no longer utilized for its intended purpose.
Also, if there has been deviation of the terms and conditions in the memorandum of agreement, she said.
After the turn-over rites in Bago City, Bistoyong proceeded to La Castellana town to attend the 11th General Assembly of Macarben, which the DAR has considered as a model Arbo in the country.
She lauded the organization for being able to improve its production and generate more income to get back the land they previously leased out.
“From developing an initial land of about 80 hectares, they are now ready to redeem the remaining leased out areas of about 86 hectares this year,” the DAR official added.
