Helping farmers earn stable incomes boosts local economies, creates jobs, and opens opportunities across rural communities, says DAR. (Photo Courtesy: DAR Website)
MANILA, Philippines โ โWhy do we need to help our farmers? When farmers have stable income, they can spend on basic goods and services. That means more opportunities for businesses and livelihoods in the community.โ
This was the central message of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, who underscored how supporting farmers extends far beyond agriculture and into the broader local economy.
Estrella said raising and stabilizing farmersโ incomes does more than uplift individual householdsโit drives economic activity in rural areas, as spending circulates within communities and creates demand for goods, services, and jobs.
He clarified, however, that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) is not a quick fix to longstanding rural challenges. Instead, it lays the groundwork for long-term opportunities, particularly for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).
Among its most transformative gains, he said, is land ownership. Farmers who once tilled land they did not own are now holders of family-sized farm lots, giving them a greater stake in production and long-term security.
Estrella added that under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the government has condoned unpaid amortizations of ARBs for lands awarded under CARP, including penalties and surchargesโeasing financial burdens and enabling farmers to reinvest in their livelihoods.
Beyond land distribution, he pointed to CARPโs role in delivering essential support services, including farm-to-market roads and bridges that connect previously isolated communities to trading centers, helping reduce transport costs and minimize post-harvest losses.
The program also funds communal irrigation systems that allow year-round planting, along with post-harvest facilities such as solar dryers and warehouses to help farmers store produce and sell at more favorable prices.
In addition, CARP provides livelihood programs, access to farm machinery, and modern agricultural technologies aimed at improving productivity and crop quality.
โFor a long time, many small farmers were left behind. CARP is helping correct that by giving them land, support services, and opportunities to improve their lives,โ Estrella, in a press release posted on the DAR website, said.
He added that these efforts are ultimately about building a more resilient rural economyโone where stable farm incomes translate into stronger, more vibrant communities.
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