By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Two agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in southern Negros received a total of PHP900,000 in Village Level Farm-Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) projects from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-South.
The recipients are Barangay Ara-al Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (Baarba) in La Carlota City and Sta. Rita Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SRMPC) in Barangay Dulao, Bago City, which received PHP450,000 worth of projects each.
The Baarba, which has 149 farmer-members, received the project during the turn-over activity held on Friday, while the SRMPC, with 54 farmer-members, on Thursday.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Enrique Paderes said over the weekend the DAR allocated the budget for the trainings and construction of the processing center in each project site.
The recipient-ARBOs, meanwhile, will spearhead the implementation of the projects and shoulder the labor expenses.
Paderes said the projects would help the SRMPC in producing and marketing their products like calamansi juice and the Baarba, in producing turmeric and ginger tea.
“The VLFED is implemented in line with the agency’s continuing thrusts of strengthening the agri-enterprises among the ARBs and their organizations and enabling them to sustain the productivity of their awarded lands,” he added.
Paderes said establishing farm-focused community enterprises, which promote value-adding activities to major and secondary crops, also allows the participation of other community members in the livelihood activities within the value chain.
This will increase their household income, he added.
The recipient-ARBOs would also be equipped with skills on product development, including packaging, labeling, and processing.
