From squash to cash: A farmer-member of the Association of Women and Men of Gabawan (AWMG), one of the agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs), assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform – Albay, shows his share to the 3,100 kilos of squash marketed and sold at a total price of P71, 300.00. (Photo from Maxelinda Balaguer, DAR5-Albay)
LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY (PIA) – The squash to cash journey of the Association of Women and Men of Gabawan (AWMG) has inspired local farmers after earning P71,300 from the 3,100 kilograms of squash harvested in a one and a half hectare- community garden in Gabawan, Daraga, Albay.
Elena Ll. Arimado, association president, said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Albay provincial office has assisted them in marketing their produce through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program.
“With the marketing assistance of DAR Albay through EPAHP program, the production of squash has been able to sustainably augment our sources of income, despite the pandemic,” she said.
AWMG is one of the DAR-assisted agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) with 120 members composed of agrarian reform beneficiaries, tenants and farmers.
The AWMG has marketed the said products to major commercial establishments in the province and likewise to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Haven for Women and Girls, and Reception and Study Center for Children at Nasisi, Ligao, Albay.
Aside from linking their products to institutional buyers, the members of the organization also received various interventions such as rice trading, irrigation services, vegetable community trading post where they can sell and showcase their products.
DAR has also provided financial assistance programs including agri-production loan, Piso-Piso Savings and multi-purpose loan. (SAA/PIA5-Albay/DAR5)
Source: https://pia.gov.ph/news/2021/11/10/albay-farmers-earn-over-p70k-from-squash-production
