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6 COFFEE FARMERS GROUPS IN SURSUR RECEIVE 2.6M SOLAR TUNNEL DRYERS
By: Myra Q. Yu
Handover of turnover documents of the Solar Tunnel Dryer to one of the ARBOs. From left: ARDO Agnes Dela Cerna, Municipal Mayor Generoso Naraiso, 2 nd District Congressman Johnny Pimentel, MKCGC Chairperson Daniel Guingue, DAR Secretary John Castriciones, Caraga Regional Director Leomides Villareal, Project ConVERGE Manager Gomercindo Tumbali, PARPO II Leoncio Bautista, Jr and Mun. Vice Mayor Antonio Adlao
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Six coffee farmer groups from the towns of Tagbina and Barobo, all in Surigao del Sur received P2.6 Million worth of solar tunnel dryers funded under the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) held last August 24, 2021, in Baranggay Kahayagan in Tagbina town.
The solar tunnel dryers are set to boost the coffee production, rejuvenation, processing, and marketing enterprise benefiting 2,036 coffee farmers members of the six (6) Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBO) across the province.
In the message of DAR Regional Director and ConVERGE Regional Project Director Leomides R. Vilareal, he emphasized the importance of providing the facilities to improve the efficiency and quality of our farmers’ produce, aside from the capacity building and mentoring provided to them.
During his speech, DAR Secretary Castriciones highlighted the role of our farmers in the country’s battle against a pandemic. “At the height of the pandemic, we could realize how important agriculture and the farmers are in our economy and
in our survival against COVID-19…importante po ang papel ninyong mga magsasaka, dahil kayo po ang siyang nagbibigay buhay sa ating pamahalaan at sa ating mamamayan,” he said. The DAR chief also underscored unity as a major factor in improving the lives of our farmers. “Gusto po naming iparamdam sa inyo na bagamat may pandemya, kapag tayo po ay nagtulong-tulong, ang ating hangarin na mapataas ang antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga magsasaka ay makamit,” he added.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Leoncio Bautista, Jr. in his project brief mentioned that among the organizations that benefited the project were Ugoban Multipurpose Cooperative (UMPC), Tagbina Rural Improvement Club Producers Cooperative (TAGRICCO), Mabuhay Kahayagan Coffee Growers Cooperative (MKCGC), Barangay Villaverde Coffee Growers Cooperative (BAVILCOGCO), Tagarebe Multipurpose Cooperative (TAGAREBE MPC), and San Roque Cooperative (SARCO).
Chairperson of Mabuhay Kahayagan Coffee Growers Cooperative Daniel Guingue expressed his gratitude and thanks, “Daghang salamat labi na sa Secretary sa DAR sa inyong suporta kanamong mag-uuma ug sa kooperatiba (Thank you so much specially to DAR Secretary for the support to the farmers and to the cooperatives),” he said. The ceremonial turnover was led by Sec. Castriciones together with 2nd District Congressman Johnny T. Pimentel, Municipal Mayor Generoso L. Naraiso, Vice Mayor Antonio N. Adlao, Dir. Villareal, Asst. Regional Director Agnes L. Dela Cerna, Project Manager Gomercindo G. Tumbali, PARPO Bautista, and witnessed by DAR officials and employees, ARBO members, barangay officials, and hundreds of participants. (DAR-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
