The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in partnership with the local government of Odiongan launches a program that will link farms, smallholder farmers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) to the market last October 15.
A signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DAR-Romblon, Local Government of Odiongan, Romblon State University, and AGRA Progreso Multi-Purpose Cooperative was the highlight of the said event.
According to Camilo Claro Pacquing, OIC-PARPO of DAR-Romblon, the program called ‘Linking Smallholder Farmers to Markets with Microfinance (LinkSFarMM)' aims to uplift the lives of the farmers from the eight barangays of Odiongan by linking them to various stakeholders.
“First, we have to classify our ARB Organizations, so we can help them easily, then train them to develop their products– not only selling them as raw materials,” Pacquing said in an interview with Philippine Information Agency – Romblon.
The LinkSFarMM project focuses on assisting farmers, and farmer group to help increase agricultural productivity and effectively manage their agricultural production by applying value chain process.
In her speech, Odiongan Mayor Trina Firmalo-Fabic expressed appreciation to DAR for helping the farmers and vowed to coordinate LGU's upcoming projects to DAR's LinkSFarMM.
Meanwhile, Romblon State University President Arnulfo de Luna during his speech told ARB organizations that the academe is willing to sponsor speakers and trainers to help farmers in developing their raw products.
The said program also links farmers to Microfinance Cooperative to provide opportunity to farmers to access aid on their selected ventures.
