Mindanaotoday.com | DAR project ‘Converge’ increases productivity, farmers income at 40%
By: Jasper Marie Rucat
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform-10 (DAR-10) reported an increase of 40% to the productivity and income of farmers in the region under project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE), more than the set goal of 30%.
DAR Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang said in Talakayan sa PIA, media forum, at SM City Cagayan de Oro, the project aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty incidence in 10 provinces of Regions 9, 10 and CARAGA through the promotion of sustainable livelihood activities.
She said they have conducted various focused group discussions (FGDs) and identified existing crops or commodities for enhancement as part of rural growth and empowerment.
There are seven Value Chain Enterprises developed in the region under project ConVERGE, namely, Coco Sugar Production, Processing and Marketing Enterprises in Misamis Oriental, Abaca Fiber Production and Marketing in Camiguin, Cassava Granules Processing and Marketing in North Bukidnon, Muscovado Sugar Processing and Marketing in South Bukidnon, Abaca Fiber Production and Consolidation in Misamis Oriental, Production, Processing and Marketing of Class “A” Yellow Corn in North Bukidnon and Corn processing and Marketing in South Bukidnon.
Engr. Norberto Paquingan, provincial agrarian reform program officer and provincial project coordinator of South Bukidnon, said in Bukidon they have two Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) clusters, North Bukidnon Cluster in Manolo Fortich and South Bukidnon ARC cluster in Don Carlos.
North Bukidnon Cluster handles the Cassava granules using Cassava as raw materials, processed into cassava chips and eventually the finished product which is cassava granules.
Aside from the raw materials, the usual farming activity of the ARB, they venture into value adding activities, to process raw materials into muscovado, for sugar cane, and to cassava granules from the usual cassava, he said.
Project CONVERGE also invested its fund for rural infrastructure, which includes farm-to-market Roads worth P158,579,661.08, bridge worth P5,079,014.97, solar tunnel dryers at P9,126,888.08, warehouse P17,732,446.53 and Potable Water System worth P1,746,421.53.
The timeframe for Project ConVERGE is from October 25, 2015 to December 31, 2021 but was extended up to December 31, 2022 due to COVID19. Director Macadindang shared that as of present they have accomplished 88% of the project.
Project Converge is a value chain project implemented by DAR and funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the government of the Philippines. (JMOR | PIA-10)
###