A TOTAL of 71 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Cadiz City recently received chicken layering farm business enterprise through the government’s Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project (Claap).
Hacienda Chambery Farmworkers Association with 46 ARB-members and Vagumaco ARB Association with 25 members, both in Barangay Caduha-an, now collectively manage the enterprises implemented under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The two associations received 10 and seven modules, respectively. These consist of ready-to-lay hens that are estimated to produce an average of 225 to 330 eggs per day.
Prior to the turnover, the recipients attended some capacity-building trainings initiated by the DAR to improve their management and marketing skills.
DAR-Negros Occidental I Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD) officer-in-charge Chief Rizalina Yuguing, who spoke at turnover ceremony, said the projects were granted to provide the farmers with additional and sustainable source of income.
For his part, DSWD project development officer II Asher Ventigan advised the associations to be transparent and settle issues and concerns among themselves as soon as possible.
The Claap is a collaboration of the two agencies which aims to expand and increase farmers’ access to economic opportunities.
The DSWD has allocated and transferred to the DAR a total of P1 billion for the conduct and provision of social preparation, technical capacity building, and capital assistance.
The amount is for the establishment of livelihood and microenterprise projects duly identified and chosen by the farmer-beneficiaries themselves.
Meanwhile, DAR-Negros Occidental I also distributed land titles to 23 ARBs in E.B. Magalona town recently.
The 24.6-hectare landholding was formerly owned by the heirs of Angeles Montinola located in Barangay Consing.
The farmer-beneficiaries were urged to adhere to the rights, responsibilities, and obligations such as payment of land taxes, as well as making their lands productive.
The distribution is one of the preliminary activities of DAR to acquire land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program – Extension with Reforms (Carper). (PR)