Ilocos norte: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Thursday distributed farm machinery and equipment (FMEs), including farm inputs worth PHP7.4 million, to 14 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) and 12 farmers' associations in Ilocos Norte. During the ceremonial turnover at Barangay 23 San Roque's covered court here, DAR Ilocos Norte chief agrarian reform program officer Rommel Aquino said the platform aims to boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers' livelihoods, as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s continued support for farmers under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative comes in collaboration with the Philippine Carabao Center, which also included the distribution of 21 buffaloes valued at PHP1.68 million. The farm machinery provided included three units of 4-wheel drive tractors with rotary tiller and other essential equipment to various farmer cooperatives and associations across the region. These were given to organizations like the Paninaan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, San Juan Cagcag Farmers and Irrigators Association, and Lang-ayan Agrarian Reform Cooperative.

The distribution also covered a range of other machinery such as rice transplanters, hand tractors, power tillers, combined harvesters, and water pump engine sets to associations in towns like Burgos, Pagudpud, Batac City, and others. Additionally, the initiative also provided organic and inorganic fertilizers to further aid in crop production and cost reduction for farmers.

The initiative was part of DAR's Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities Program. DAR-Ilocos Norte emphasized that these FMEs are more than just tools, symbolizing the government's trust and commitment to the development of agrarian reform beneficiaries and rural communities.