DAR program aims to improve farm productivity

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform, in line with the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPER), is implementing the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) Program starting this year.

The program aims to improve farm productivity as well as the net income of agrarian reform beneficiaries and sustain their livelihood, by improving the organizational capacities of participating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in agri-enterprise development.

ARCCESS is an inter-sectoral partnership led by the government and participated in by state universities/colleges, civil society organizations and private institutions which will provide a range of services that will improve the performance of the ARBO’s agri-enterprise, its access to markets, and its ability to compete against other markets.

DAR-7 has a total of ten ARCCESS projects identified last year and shall be implemented this year.

In Cebu, two projects were identified. Three projects were also identified in Bohol while four are in Negros Oriental and one in Siquijor.

The projects identified were rice, palm oil, coffee and sugarcane. The projects will benefit 17 ARBOs, 7,185 ARBs and 2,522 non-ARBs.

Alex Relova, DAR-7 chief for Program Beneficiaries Development said that for this year, eleven projects were identified which will benefit 42 ARBOs, 4,106 ARBs and 3,363 non-ARBs.

DAR-7 Roldolfo Inson has expressed appreciation to the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers for their submission of the project proposals which were reviewed by the DAR regional office and are now at the national level for approval and funding.—(FREEMAN)