Five ARBOs from north Negros Occidental gained access to a wide range of support and inputs designed to significantly contribute to their farm productivity. This is under the Comprehensive Assistance to Small Holders or C.A.S.H. for Farm Productivity, a strategic intervention of SIFI’s RSS or Responsible Sourcing from Small Holders project.
Three mills – Hawaiian-Philippine Company, Victorias Milling Company and LOPEZ Sugar Corporation are RSS partners. The strategy, to be implemented within a 1-year cycle, has a three-point objective: higher income for farmers, better quality and more supply of canes for mills, and, the mitigation of RSS risks in child labour, workers health and safety, trash burning, soil degradation.
The 5 ARBOs participating are: 1) Mirasol Development Corp. Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Sagay City; 2) Hda. Basag 1 Farm Workers Association in E.B. Magalona; 3) Hda.Virgen 2-3 Duplex Workers Association in Silay City; 4) Tres Hermanos Small Farmers Association in Cadiz City; and 5) San Juan Torena Agrarian Reform Cooperative in Cadiz City.
Each ARBO established in the fourth quarter of 2019 a 2-hectare demo farm planted with sugar cane. SIFI and its partner mills have provided or will provide assistance/support on soil fertility improvement, access to high-yielding varieties, access to sugar farm technology sessions, technical coaching on-site, linkages for farm inputs, services and equipment. The ARBOs for their part will cover all other labour and material costs for the entire production year. The total harvest/yield at the end of 1 year cycle in year 2020 will also go to the ARBOs.
This assistance is expected to benefit a total of 248 small farmers, a third of whom are women farmers.
MDCARC DEMO FARM (4 MONTHS OLD)
SJTARC DEMO FARM (3.5 MONTHS OLD)
