AGUSAN DEL NORTE — A major boost to agricultural productivity is expected for members of the Rosario Agrarian Reform Cooperative (RARC) in Las Nieves after the cooperative received P1.485 million worth of farm machinery and implements during the provincial Handog ng Pangulo activity in Barangay Taod-oy, Magallanes. The assistance was delivered by the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Caraga Region (DAR-13) through its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP). The distribution brought government assistance closer to farming communities while supporting efforts to improve productivity and strengthen the agrarian reform sector.
Mechanization to Make Farming More Efficient
Among the equipment provided was a four-wheel-drive farm tractor, which is expected to make several stages of agricultural production faster and more efficient for RARC members. According to cooperative manager Antero Paña, the tractor will help farmers speed up land preparation, plowing, and planting while allowing them to cultivate larger areas within a shorter period. The equipment will also reduce the cooperative's reliance on manual labor, potentially lowering expenses for hired workers, particularly during peak farming periods. The machinery is especially significant as farmers continue to face challenges brought by changing climate conditions that can affect agricultural productivity and farm operations.
Empowering Farmers Through Government Support
For RARC, the assistance represents more than additional farm equipment. It provides agrarian reform beneficiaries with improved tools that can help them increase production, strengthen their resilience, and become more competitive in the agricultural sector. Cooperative chairperson Leonila M. Ranggas expressed appreciation for the assistance, emphasizing its importance to the cooperative's agrarian reform beneficiary members. The Handog ng Pangulo initiative seeks to make government programs and essential services more accessible, particularly to communities in rural areas. Through the distribution of modern farm machinery, the program contributes to the broader effort to improve agricultural operations and create better livelihood opportunities for farmers. For the Rosario Agrarian Reform Cooperative, the new equipment marks another step toward more productive, efficient, and climate-resilient farming.
