THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over P4 million worth of six-wheeler hauler truck to an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (Arbo) in Himamaylan City.

The machinery is seen to address the hauling needs of the farmer-members of Tara Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Tarc) at Barangay Carabalan in the southern Negros Occidental locality.

Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Edna Villaruel, who led the turnover rites at the said barangay Wednesday, April 25, said the machinery is provided under the Sugar Block Farm project of the agency.

Villaruel said it aims to boost the harvest of the farmers as well as improve their income.

“The truck will also serve as an added service of the cooperative to its members and other farmers. The earnings will be used as a business asset of the organization and maintenance of the equipment,” she added.

Pacita Decatoria, manager of the cooperative, said the truck will be of great help to the Arbo, which was identified as the lead organization for sugar block farming.

Tarc chairman Erwin Calma, for his part, expressed gratitude for the awarded landholdings and extended support services of the government.

“The dump truck would greatly benefit the farmer-members mainly due to its lower rental fee compared to other rental trucking services,” Calma added.

Sugar block farming is a system where small sugarcane farmers formed themselves into groups.

Farms are consolidated into 30 to 50 hectares adopting economies of scale to make their farm operations more cost-efficient, productive and profitable.