6 coffee farmers groups in SurSur receive 2.6M solar tunnel dryers
By: Myra Q. Yu
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- Six coffee farmer groups
from the towns of Tagbina and Barobo, all in Surigao del Sur received P2.6
Million worth of solar tunnel dryers funded under the Convergence on Value
Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) held last August
24, 2021, in Baranggay Kahayagan in Tagbina town.
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| Handover of turnover documents of the Solar Tunnel Dryer to one of the ARBOs. From left: ARDO Agnes Dela Cerna, Municipal Mayor Generoso Naraiso, 2 nd District Congressman Johnny Pimentel, MKCGC Chairperson Daniel Guingue, DAR Secretary John Castriciones, Caraga Regional Director Leomides Villareal, Project ConVERGE Manager Gomercindo Tumbali, PARPO II Leoncio Bautista, Jr and Mun. Vice Mayor Antonio Adlao |
The solar tunnel dryers are set to boost the coffee production, rejuvenation, processing, and marketing enterprise benefiting 2,036 coffee farmers members of the six (6) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBO) across the province.
In the message of DAR Regional Director and ConVERGE
Regional Project Director Leomides R. Vilareal, he emphasized the importance of
providing the facilities to improve the efficiency and quality of our farmers’
produce, aside from the capacity building and mentoring provided to them.
During his speech, DAR Secretary Castriciones highlighted
the role of our farmers in the country’s battle against a pandemic. “At the
height of the pandemic, we could realize how important agriculture and the
farmers are in our economy and in our survival against COVID-19…importante po
ang papel ninyong mga magsasaka, dahil kayo po ang siyang nagbibigay buhay sa
ating pamahalaan at sa ating mamamayan,” he said. The DAR chief
also underscored unity as a major factor in improving the lives of our
farmers. “Gusto po naming iparamdam sa inyo na bagamat may pandemya, kapag tayo
po ay nagtulong-tulong, ang ating hangarin na mapataas ang antas ng pamumuhay
ng ating mga magsasaka ay makamit,” he added.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Leoncio
Bautista, Jr. in his project brief mentioned that among the organizations that
benefited the project were Ugoban Multipurpose Cooperative (UMPC), Tagbina
Rural Improvement Club Producers Cooperative (TAGRICCO), Mabuhay Kahayagan
Coffee Growers Cooperative (MKCGC), Barangay Villaverde Coffee Growers
Cooperative (BAVILCOGCO), Tagarebe Multipurpose Cooperative (TAGAREBE MPC), and
San Roque Cooperative (SARCO).
Chairperson of Mabuhay Kahayagan Coffee Growers
Cooperative Daniel Guingue expressed his gratitude and thanks, “Daghang salamat labi na sa Secretary sa DAR sa inyong suporta kanamong
mag-uuma ug sa kooperatiba (Thank you so much specially to DAR
Secretary for the support to the farmers and to the cooperatives)," he
said.
The ceremonial turnover was led by Sec. Castriciones together with 2nd District Congressman Johnny T. Pimentel, Municipal Mayor Generoso L. Naraiso, Vice Mayor Antonio N. Adlao, Dir. Villareal, Asst. Regional Director Agnes L. Dela Cerna, Project Manager Gomercindo G. Tumbali, PARPO Bautista, and witnessed by DAR officials and employees, ARBO members, barangay officials, and hundreds of participants. (DAR-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
