13 ARMM cooperatives receive P12.2 million worth of farm implements

COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) recently turned over some P12.2 million worth of farm implements to 13 cooperatives in Maguindanao province.

The farm implements were comprised of 65 hand tractors with trailers, 13 floating tillers, 260 knapsack sprayers and 13 welding machines. These were funded under the ARMM’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Security and Synergy (HELPS) Project.

The turnover ceremony held at the ARMM Compound was led by Director Anwar Upahm of ARMM-HELPS Project Management Office. The beneficiary cooperatives were represented by their respective chairmen during the event.

Among the beneficiaries was the Kayaga Farmers Cooperative based in Pandag town. Abdulkasan Edris, 32, the cooperative’s president received farm implements worth close to P1 million.

Edris said the five units of hand tractor with trailer, one unit of floating tiller, 20 units of knapsack sprayer and one unit of welding machine they received will help more than 30 members of the cooperative.

The 12 other cooperative beneficiaries are:

Tamar Kalilintad Farmers Producers Cooperative in Talayan;

Tukanalipao Kalilintad Producers Cooperative in Mamasapano;

Tambunan Agri Marketing Cooperative in Guindulungan;

Damalibi Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Datu Piang;

Romongaob Farmers Producers Cooperative in South Upi;

Pagalungan Farmers Cooperative in Pagalungan;

Upper Baka Farmers Producers Cooperative in Datu Odin Sinsuat;

Paglaum Farmers Producers Cooperative in Datu Abdullah Sangki;

Balasan Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Datu Saudi Ampatuan;

Duaminanga Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Datu Piang;

Damakling Taliawid Mamagayon Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Paglat; and,

Cabayuan Farmers Marketing Cooperative in Buldon.

Upahm said livelihood projects will also be turned over to cooperatives in Sulu province this month.

ARMM-HELPS is a convergence initiative of the regional government and is regarded as the centerpiece initiative of the Hataman administration, which has been pursuing the program’s agriculturerelated livelihood component through the DAF-ARMM, and other regional line agencies.