By Connie Calipay
LegaZpi City – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is set to procure additional farm machinery, tools, and equipment to support farmers in Camarines Sur in enhancing their productivity and income amidst the El Niño phenomenon through the Major Crop-based Block Farm Productivity Enhancement (MCBFPE) project.
In a recent interview, Jay Rupert Mendoza, the Agrarian Reform Program Officer for Camarines Sur, stated that the Burabod Farmers Agrarian Reform Organization (BFARO) located in Burabod, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, is poised to receive interventions valued at PHP1.8 million, benefiting their agricultural endeavors.
This intervention is under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) program that provides support, training, and technologies to farmers affected by climate change. We are also expecting these projects to benefit the agrarian reform community of Calabanga with more than 1,000 members. The MCBFPE project will be turned over to the BFARO on March 21-22, 2024 in Burabod, Calabanga, Camarines Sur,” he said.
Mendoza said they conducted critical ARB-participant identification and baseline profiling for the beneficiaries.
“The profiling will discern the specific needs of individual ARB participants, their respective farms, current yield, agricultural practices, and management, encountered challenges, and risk assessment. The project interventions will directly address these issues and help the farmers increase productivity and profitability,” he added.
Mendoza said based on the assessment, a 10 to 20 percent increase in income per season is expected after the turnover.
He said capacity-building activities including training on integrated pest management, equipment operation, and maintenance, and introducing agri-trading business to open new markets and improve economic prospects will be given to the farmers.
In a statement, Renato Bequillo, DAR-Camarines Sur 2 chief, said the project underscores the department’s commitment to improving the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries through programs that increase productivity and profitability. (PNA)
