The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has distributed ₱59.99 million worth of farm machinery, inputs, and renewable energy equipment to support agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Caraga region, particularly in Agusan del Sur.
In a statement released Wednesday, DAR announced the provision of 138 units of machinery and equipment to 32 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Organizations (ARBOs), directly benefitting 2,878 ARBs. Equipment includes tractors, rice harvesters, milling facilities, mushroom houses, sprayers, and grass cutters, aimed at improving agricultural productivity and mechanization.
DAR also delivered 23,529 bags of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs worth ₱19.9 million to 133 ARBOs across 58 municipalities, assisting 12,588 farmers in their cultivation efforts.
A highlight of the distribution is the ₱5-million solar multi-power station awarded to the Butuan Agusan Farmers’ Cooperative, expected to reduce energy costs and increase efficiency from pre-planting to post-harvest stages. Cooperative general manager Manuelito Suan hailed the facility as a step toward modern, sustainable farming.
DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III underscored the policy significance of the initiative, noting it aligns with the government’s thrust to empower farmers not just as landowners but as technology-enabled producers. Estrella added that the support measures complement recent DAR efforts in Caraga, including the distribution of 33,694 hectares of land to 17,564 ARBs and the ₱298.94 million condonation of unpaid debts.
