The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over 2 units of delivery trucks to 2 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations under the Linking Smallholder Farmers to Markets with Microfinance (LinkSFarMM) project of the agency.
LinkSFarMM is a DAR project that links agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and smallholder farmers to the supply chain of products to help uplift the lives of ARBs, smallholder farmers, and farmer organizations.
DAR Regional Director Marion Y. Abella said the trucks were provided to address the farmers’ need for cheaper transportation of their products in the province.
“These hauling trucks will serve as an added service of ARBOs to its members and non-member farmers. The earnings from the low-rate rental of the trucks will be used as a business asset of the organization and for the maintenance of the trucks,” Abella said in a statement.
The delivery trucks were turned over to the Keytodac Coffee Growers Association Inc. (KCGAI) of Lebak and the Sitio Lam-alis Peace and Development Workers Association (SLPDVWA) of Columbio.
“This ensures that the recipient cooperative can easily transport their fresh produce to the market without delay, thereby getting the best price and higher profit. It will be a big help to our farmers especially during this troubled time of the pandemic,” DAR-Sultan Kudarat Provincial Agrarian Reform Provincial Officer Mary Jane Aguilar said.
Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ludenia Juanday, congratulated the beneficiaries and challenged them to improve their agribusiness to usher in more opportunities for their organization.
Eric Bajada, KCGAI President from Lebak, and Didith Mangcal, SLPDVWA president from Columbio accepted the delivery trucks on behalf of the members of their organizations.
“Before, we had no way of transporting our coffee products in bulk to the market and had to sell it for lower prices. Now that we have this delivery truck, we can now use it to deliver our products, especially those coming from the upper valleys,” said Bajada.
“This pandemic affirmed our trust that the DAR is always ready to support us no matter what the situation is. They have provided us with training and farm inputs during this pandemic, and now, they have provided us with a delivery truck.”