Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province of Iloilo are grateful and optimistic about their yield because of the latest farm input they have received from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Iloilo.
Some P540 million worth of organic foliar fertilizer were recently distributed by the DAR–Iloilo to 6 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in the province benefiting 1,850 farmers.
Recipient ARBOs are Dumangas Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Damires Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Tuburan Abaca Handicraft Association, CAGFAS Agrarian Reform Cooperative, JAGO CARP Beneficiaries Multi- Purpose Cooperative and Zarraga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association.
Flora Insolente, President of Tuburan Abaca Handicraft Association (TAHA) from Janiuay, Iloilo shared their sentiments and experiences on their current situation in their farming activities using inorganic fertilizer.
“Our experience has been that the prices of fertilizers, such as Urea, were expensive before. A sack of Urea, for instance, used to cost around P3,000, and the seeds were similarly priced. It seemed like almost all imports had increased in prices. When the harvest season comes, the buying price for palay is low. Because of that, we, as farmers, incurred losses,” said Insolente.
She expressed her gratitude for the support services provided to them by the government, particularly President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and DAR.
“Since DAR provided us with organic fertilizers, we hope that this will contribute ecologically and promote a healthier environment and well-being. We also anticipate that all things harmful to our environment will slowly diminish. We are hopeful that our yield will also increase in the upcoming harvests because of the organic fertilizers provided, thus reducing our losses. We would like to thank President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Secretary Conrado M. Estrella, III for these support services given to us,” added Insolente.
According to Rex Dedal, manager of Dumangas Agrarian Reform Cooperative, the farm input has a significant impact on them – farmers and members of our cooperative – because it will reduce their expenses in purchasing fertilizers for their fields.
“We hope that through the free organic fertilizers provided to us, it will contribute to the increase and improvement of our production, benefiting our community in Dumangas, Iloilo,” said Dedal.
DAR Iloilo recognized the challenges posed by climate change thus, through this initiative, aligns and contributes to the advocacy of the government to implement the practice of organic agriculture (Republic Act No. 10068) which underscores the importance of embracing organic farming as a strategic response to the evolving challenges of the changing climate.
By providing organic fertilizers to farmers, DAR-Iloilo aims not only to sustain their livelihood but also to foster a shift towards organic farming practices that will consequently enhance the soil fertility, boost agricultural yields and raise their incomes. The initiative not only serves as a lifeline for ARB’s livelihood but also as a bold step towards building a climate-resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).
The distribution of organic fertilizers was funded through the Sustainable Livelihood Support (SLS) program under the agency’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) Project implemented in both ARCs and non-ARCs that have been identified as susceptible to the effects of climate change. (PIA6-Iloilo)
