DAR exceeds 2019 targets in training, supporting farmer beneficiaries
by Czarina Nicole Ong KiThe Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) trained 467,890 agrarian reform beneficiaries last year, greatly exceeding its targets for the enhancement of their human, financial, and physical capital.
DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla said the beneficiaries were trained in various livelihood and skills development programs and gained more technical know-how in modern farm technology. This in turn, improved the quality and volume of their harvests.
The number of beneficiaries is 122,074 more than the department’s target of 345,816, which showed an accomplishment rate of 135.3 percent.
Padilla added that 206,483 farmer-beneficiaries were given access to credit and micro-finance services.
As for their physical capital, Padilla said 3,547 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBO) benefited from various forms of support services, such as the provision of farm machinery and construction of basic infrastructure projects. This is 592 more than the 2,955 targeted organizations or an equivalent of 120 percent accomplishment rate.
Inspired by last year’s success, Padilla strongly urged DAR officials and employees to continue setting the bar high this year for their farmer beneficiaries.