LAOAG CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) continues to empower farmer-organizations here with the provision of farm support facilities, skills training and technology support.
Out of the 100 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) organizations here, at least 35 have successfully completed the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) project.
Composed of three batches, the farmer-beneficiaries graduated on Wednesday on market-oriented agri-technology and agri-extension services particularly training on intensified rice production with complementary common service facilities.
Held at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium, the graduation ceremony was attended by DAR Regional Director Homer Tobias and other support agencies.
The ARCCESS is a joint project between DAR and local government units here which seeks to strengthen ARB communities by building support service in the community.
It runs on five major components which include provision on common service facilities for production and processing, agri-technology and agri-extension services, business development services how to run agricultural enterprise, credit facilitation and land tenure improvement.
“We hope to increase the number of empowered ARB organizations and double or triple the existing 8,000 active member-beneficiaries to in Ilocos Norte to about 24,000 in the next three years,” Tobias said as he hopes this project will be carried out by the next administration.(PNA)