ARBOs benefit DAR-EastWest partnership

Six ARBOs in the province of Sorsogon have already felt the benefit of DAR – East West Seeds Philippines partnership. 

A. Bonifacio Farmers and Irrigators’ Association (ABFIA) in Bulan, Sorsogon; G. Del Pilar Farmers’ Association (GPIFA), also in Bulan, Sorsogon; Lajong Natural Vegetable Growers Association in Juban, Sorsogon; Sipaya Small Farmers’ Association (SISFA) also in Juban, Sorsogon; BIGKIS Farmers’ Producers Cooperative in Irosin, Sorsogon; and Monbon Farmers’ Association (MonFA) also in Irosin, Sorsogon receives cash and seedlings to start their chosen business.

The DAR funded the project for the trainings of the ARBOs. They were taught how to run the business on Seedloan, and Farm-input loan; they also learned Vegetable Production; and Vermiculture, this is the production of organic fertilizer using worms to decompose organic food waste, then turning the waste into a nutrient-rich material capable of supplying necessary nutrients to help sustain plant growth. This is the business adopted by the BIGKIS. The SISFA chose Vegetable Production to be their business. ABFIA ventured also in Vermiculture but they also have farm-input loan. GPIFA’s choice of business is a combination of Vermiculture and Seedloan. Lajong and MonFA are purely on Seedloan. 

After sharing the knowledge by the East West Seeds Philippines headed by Dr. Roberto R. Acosta, Technology Transfer Manager, they provided the seedlings and cash to ARBOs. ABFIA got a total amount of Php215,932.17; GPIFA got Php151,452.28; MonFA got Php178,803.74; BIGKIS got Php117,985.21; SISFA got 86,163.72; and Lajong got 270,371.11. These are grants that’s why ARBOs are so thankful of this partnership.

According to CARPO Liza B. Repotente, while the Land Tenure Improvement Division (LTID) of DAR provides land to the farmers, it is now their (Program Beneficiaries’ Development Division) turn to provide the support services like this in order to make the land productive.

“During our distribution of CLOA in Irosin last month, I remember the chairman of Bigkis said that they still need DAR’s support because their knees are still weak since they are just beginners. So, with the trainings and the amount granted to you by DAR-East West Seeds partnership you have now the reason to become strong,” Leonito M. Gaveria, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II said. ###