MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform has inked an agreement with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. to help increase the household income of farmers by developing and improving their business enterprises.
DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano said the livelihood program partnership agreement with AFI and the Aboitiz Group’s food arm, Pilmico Foods Corp. is under the public-private partnership initiative of the government.
“The partnership is geared towards a common goal of improving the lives of farmers by helping them develop their agricultural enterprises. This will be conducted by helping them establish livelihood businesses like piglet dispersal, chicken egg production and bakery business,” Mariano said.
About 1,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the provinces of La Union, Pampanga, Camarines Sur, Surigao del Norte, South Cotabato and Western Samar are expected to benefit from this program.
Prior to the signing of the agreement, Undersecretary for Support Services Rosalina Bistoyong said DAR had conducted feasibility studies on the sustainability and success rate of each business endeavour.
“According to our studies, an increase in farmers income by 1.5 percent per month is expected. This, of course, depends on the frequency of baking, or how many eggs and pigs are sold by the farmer, Bistoyong said..
Under the agreement, Pilmico shall provide technical expertise on piglet dispersal, chicken egg production and bakery store management. Pilmico shall also deliver piglets, egg-laying hens, animal feeds, egg-laying machines, bags of baking flour and starter kits (basic appliances) for the bakery business.
AFI, on the other hand, shall provide additional funding for the establishment of each livelihood project. It will also provide trainings and continuously monitor the process of establishing the livelihood projects.
DAR, for its part, shall provide micro finance services to the farmers such as loans, savings and insurance to help them gain collateral for their agribusiness. It shall also link the farmers¹ businesses to a wider market.