DAR gives 2 dump trucks to sugarcane farmers

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/05/31/dar-gives-2-dump-trucks-sugarcane-farmers-476815
• Tuesday, May 31, 2016

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over two 10-wheeler dump trucks to the agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in Medellin, Cebu.

DAR Cebu Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Elvira B. Bation said the two dump trucks were provided under the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services program. DAR spent a total of P11.4 million, as each dump truck cost at 5.7 million.

San Jose Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (SJARBMPC) and Canhabagat Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (CARBMPC) received one dump truck each.

The dump trucks were awarded to the farmers’ organizations with the aim of improving the quality of life of its members, as this can greatly help the hauling needs of the farmers and serve as an added service of the cooperative.

The earnings will be used as business asset of the organization and for the maintenance of the trucks.

In his message, DAR 7 Director Alejandro Otacan said the two ARBOs were fortunate to be included among the qualified recipients of the farm machineries identified nationwide.

He said the dump trucks will greatly help the ARBOs farmer-members who were also identified as lead organizations for the sugar block farming.

Otacan, Bation and the beneficiary-ARBOs signed a memorandum of agreement during the turnover of dump trucks.

Sugar block farming is a system where small sugarcane farmers who formed themselves into groups, with their farms consolidated into 30-50 hectares and adopt economies of scale to make their farm operations more cost efficient and more productive and profitable.

SJARBMPC manager Cresver Ancero said the cooperative has been waiting for the truck as this will help improve the services to its members. Farmer-members can use the dump truck with lower rental fee.

Flora Argawanon, chairman of Canhabagat ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, thanked DAR for the awarded landholdings and for all the support services that has been extended to them, especially the newly awarded dump truck.