THE Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Mafar-Barmm) on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, distributed some 5,000 fruit-bearing tree seedlings in Basilan province.

The Mafar-Barmm said in a statement that of the 5,000 tree seedlings, 2,500 are dwarf coconuts, 1,500 durian trees and 1,000 rambutan trees.

It said the tree seedlings were distributed to 100 participants that included former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation, members of the Basilan Ulamah Supreme Council and farmers.

The Mafar-Barmm said it is part of the effort of the autonomous government in aiding the agricultural needs of MILF and MNLF farmers, as well as strengthening agricultural programs in the region.

The distribution of tree seedlings was held with funding support from the Office of Member of Parliament Abdulmuhmin Mujahid.

“This is the right time to distribute to these people so that they can plant, syempre wala na tayong problema sa peace and order dito sa Basilan (of course we no longer have a problem with peace and order here in Basilan)," Mujahid said.

Meanwhile, Abulgani Tambu from the Basilan Ulamah Supreme Council, expressed his gratitude to the government of Barmm for helping the farmers in Basilan. (SunStar Zamboanga)