The production of high value crops such as corn, peanut, and squash in the Municipality of Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur is expected to intensify with the awarding of farm implements to the Metro Nambaran Agrarian Reform Cooperative (ARC) and the Municipal Federation for Rural Improvement Club of Sto. Domingo under the Small Livelihood Project (SLP) of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) on January 22, 2018.

The Metro Nambaran ARC proposed for a Corn and Squash Production and Trading Enterprise with a total investment cost of Php 1,198,050 to help its 173 farmer members. The members of the Cooperative are among those adversely affected by Typhoon Lando in October 2015.

Through the enterprise funded by the PRDP, the Cooperative received eight (8) rolls of hose, two (2) units of Diesel water pump, two (2) units of hand tractor with trailer, and one (1) unit of palay and corn thresher. The awarding of the hybrid corn and squash seeds was deferred to fit the planting season of the commodities.

Mr. Anastacio Tadios, Vice Chairman of the Metro Nambaran ARC said, “It is the Cooperative’s first time to receive farm implements from the Government. Availing government assistance before requires costly counterparts which the Cooperative cannot provide.” Under the PRDP, farmer organizations are only required to provide 20 percent counterpart in cash or in kind.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Federation RIC received two (2) units of hand tractor with trailer and two (2) units of Diesel water pump. They proposed for Production of Seed Planting Materials for Peanut and Farm Equipment/Implements Services with a total investment cost of Php 1, 080,070.

With more than 7,000 members all over the province of Ilocos Sur, the RIC is set to provide quality peanut seeds and cheaper tractor rental to peanut farmers in the province. Aside from the farm implements, the RIC will also receive 200 sacks of certified peanut seeds from PRDP.

Ms. Nilda Romias, President of the RIC, expressed how they are grateful to the PRDP. “We are indeed thankful that PRDP process has even taught us about business plan preparation. We have been the recipient of other government funded projects (i.e. Negosyo Center and Food Terminal Project), but we learned more from PRDP.”

The increase in production of high value crops in the Municipality is expected to reflect in the direct beneficiaries’ income. The PRDP aims to increase farmers’ income by 30 percent at the end of its implementation or after six years. ### Vida V. Cacal and Dessa U. Estrada, RPCO 1 InfoACE