Farmers belonging to an indigenous community in Aurora province have received new agricultural support from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), as part of efforts to improve farm productivity in areas frequently affected by natural hazards. The assistance includes a rice transplanter given to a local agrarian reform beneficiaries’ cooperative in Casiguran.
The Calabgan-Ditinagyan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, which is made up of 45 Dumagat farmers, operates in a coastal community that is often exposed to typhoons, flooding, and drought. These recurring weather challenges have long affected farming activities and overall agricultural output in the area.
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Strengthening Farming Capacity Through Modern Tools
According to Jose Salvador Mudlong, DAR Aurora Senior Agrarian Reform Program Officer, the intervention is under the Sustainable Livelihood Support for Disaster-Affected Areas (SLSDAA) program, which is designed to strengthen agricultural productivity while also supporting stable food supply in vulnerable communities.
He noted that the equipment is expected to ease manual labor, speed up the rice planting process, and help improve harvest yields in the long run. The initiative is also part of broader efforts to rebuild livelihoods in disaster-prone areas through long-term support programs.
"The provision of the rice transplanter is a significant step towards enhancing the farming capacity of our Indigenous People brothers and sisters in Casiguran," Mudlong said.
Alongside the distribution of equipment, cooperative members are set to undergo training sessions focused on the proper use and maintenance of the rice transplanter. This is aimed at ensuring that farmers can fully maximize the benefits of mechanized farming and improve their overall agricultural practices.
Impact on Food Security and Rural Communities
DAR emphasized that its programs in Aurora are part of a wider push to strengthen resilience in farming communities, especially those under agrarian reform who are more exposed to environmental risks. In a related effort, another cooperative in Maria Aurora also received power tillers valued at P340,000 to support vegetable production in the area.
The agency said the introduction of modern farming tools is expected to help improve productivity and income levels, ultimately contributing to better living conditions for farmers.
Initiatives like this highlight how agricultural support in vulnerable provinces plays a role in stabilizing local food supply, which in turn affects food availability and prices in communities across the country.
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