THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North distributed farm productivity support to five farmer-organizations in the northern part of the province on Wednesday.
This is through the Passover: Arbold Move to Heal as One Deliverance our Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries from the Covid-19 Pandemic project.
In Cadiz City, the Hacienda Estrellas Farm Workers Association of Barangay Tiglawigan received 15 bags of fertilizer, including five bags of Urea, 14 bags of vermi-cast, 10 packs of ampalaya seeds and hand shovels, eight packs of eggplant seeds bundled with rakes, and one pack of string beans and hoes.
The Nabinay Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Barangay Daga was given 26 bags of fertilizer, including nine bags of Urea, 12 packs of ampalaya seeds and hand shovels, eight packs of eggplant seeds bundled with rakes, and 11 packs of string beans and hoes.
The Dalayapan Agrarian Reform Cooperative at Barangay Caduha-an received 39 bags of fertilizer, 19 bags of Urea, 39 packs of ampalaya seeds and hand shovels, 19 packs of eggplant seeds bundled with rakes, and 11 packs of string beans and hoes.
The San Juan Torena Agrarian Reform Cooperative, on the other hand, received 21 bags of fertilizer including seven bags of Urea, 14 packs of ampalaya seeds and hand shovels, five packs of eggplant seeds bundled with rakes, and six packs of string beans and hoes.
In Escalante City, the Hacieda Anita Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Barangay Dian-ay received 32 bags of fertilizer including 11 bags of Urea, five packs of ampalaya seeds and hand shovels, 17 packs of eggplant seeds bundled with rakes, and 16 packs of string beans and hoes.
The project distribution was spearheaded by the Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD) of DAR-Negros Occidental I.
The PBDD, in a statement, said the distributed seeds and cash crops can be converted into cash or can provide food for the community in three to four months.
It will aid the farmers in mitigating the effects of prolonged limited movements due to coronavirus disease crisis.
"This is the DAR's response to the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which aims to provide essential support to farmer-beneficiaries, mitigate the negative impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, and prepare the agricultural sector in coping with the new normal," it added.
The Passover project has four main components such as support to agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (Arbos) as frontliners in the food supply chain; farm productivity assistance to ARBs; livelihood support for women in crisis situation; and package of supplemental food and non-food items.
DAR-Negros Occidental I said the intervention given manifests that even in the most difficult times, the agency will still carry its mandate to serve the farmers.
With Negros Occidental still under the Modified General Community Quarantine, the conducted activity included the observance of minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Health, it added.