BALER, Aurora (PIA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over ₱600,000 worth of coconut dehusker machines to Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) cooperatives in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Recipients of one machine each include the Pinagkaisa Agrarian Reform Cooperative and the Diarabasin Integrated Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Josephine Aguinaldo said the initiative, funded under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program, aims to improve productivity, reduce manual labor, and lower operational costs in coconut farming.
“These machines introduce appropriate technologies that make coconut processing more efficient and less labor-intensive, allowing our ARBs to increase their income and focus on other farming activities,” Aguinaldo added.
Manual dehusking of 2,000 coconuts costs around ₱4,000 in daily labor, while the machine can process 4,000 coconuts in eight hours using only six liters of gasoline and two operators, with a total cost of ₱1,672—significantly reducing expenses and doubling productivity.
Meanwhile, DAR also conducted training and provided technical support to ensure that ARBs can properly operate and maintain the machines and adopt best practices in coconut production.
“These interventions are part of DAR’s continuing commitment to empower agrarian reform communities and promote sustainable agricultural development,” Aguinaldo furthered.
Aside from providing equipment, the agency also implements other support services for farmers to help ensure their long-term growth and resilience.
These include livelihood assistance, farm inputs, and capacity-building activities. (CLJD/MAT, PIA Region 3-Aurora)
