DAR cites progress on P180-M project for abaca farmers in Agusan del
Norte
BUTUAN
CITY, June 1 -- The P180-million project for the Abaca Value-Chain Project for
the abaca farmers in the province of Agusan del Norte is now making progress,
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the area reported.
The
project was implemented through the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for
Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) and funded by the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The project covers the towns of Tubay, Jabonga, Kitcharao, and Santiago in Agusan del Norte.
Based
on its concept, the project aims to increase the profitability of agrarian
reform beneficiaries (ARBs), smallholder farmers, the Indigenous Communities
and women groups who are part of the network of San Isidro Upland Farmers
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) and 20 other participating Agrarian
Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in the area.
Provincial
Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega disclosed that most of the
project is funded by a loan from the IFAD, with counterpart funding from DAR,
Local Government Units (LGUs) and farmer-beneficiaries.
The
project was already approved last October 2015 and took off during the last
quarter of 2016, said Annelyn R. Chan, the project coordinator of ConVERGE in
DAR-Agusan del Norte.
She added that a total of P55.6 million was already allocated for the project from the total cost that will be utilized for its full implementation from this year until 2021.
She added that a total of P55.6 million was already allocated for the project from the total cost that will be utilized for its full implementation from this year until 2021.
With
the very active participation of all project stakeholders and
partner-implementers, Team ConVERGE in DAR-Agusan del Norte was able to deliver
the two-year target in a span of one year, she noted.
The
project has already conducted eighty classes with 13 types of capability
enhancement trainings to 21 farmer-groups; provided 12 mobile abaca stripping
machines; one unit 10-wheeler hauling truck and provided planting materials and
other farm inputs to 10 ARBOs covering 300 hectares.
This
year, Chan said the project will start the rehabilitation of farm-to-market
roads in the coverage areas to provide the ARBs and ARBOs easy access to the
market centers in the area. (DAR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
