USDA continues to support ARBs in Agusan del Norte

BUTUAN CITY – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the East West Seed Company (EWSC), has been supporting the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in an effort to increase their farm and food production, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Spokesperson Joie I. Ceballos told The Manila Bulletin on Monday.

The region’s DAR spokesperson said some of the USDA funded project came in the form of training on communal vegetable projects for ARB beneficiaries.

Twenty-five ARB members of Doña Rosario CLOA Holders Vegetable Producers Association (DRCHVPA) in Agusan del Norte have undergone an eight-month long training on communal vegetable project implemented by Winrock International in Caraga under the Philippine Cold Chain Project, which was funded by USDA.

DAR 13 is also assisting the farmer-ARBs, through cooperative strengthening programs and entrepreneurial skills and other support services, to maximize the utilization of the awarded lands, the region’s DAR 13 spokesperson said.

Recently, DRCHVPA conducted a Harvest Festival and Techno Expo product display at Barangay Doña Rosario, in Tubay town, Agusan del Norte to showcase their vegetable produce, Ceballos said.

“Their training really helped them a lot by increasing their farm produce,” he added.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega also said the activity was a good opportunity to showcase their vegetable produce through product display to improve farmers’ confidence and thereby improve their productivity by way of sharing their new ideas and technologies.