The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), formally turned over the P15-million peanut production, consolidation, and marketing project to the Aramal-Tocok Federation of Free Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FFF MPC), September 12.
The said project comprises a P14.9-million peanut consolidation and storage facility, trucks, tractors, and financial capital.
In 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported 31,772.15 metric tons (MT) of peanuts were produced natiomwide. Ilocos Region was the top peanut-producing region with a record of 12,335.36 MT—5,668.11 MT or almost 46 percent of which came from the province of Pangasinan.
Through the project, the Aramal-Tocok FFF MPC will handle the contract growing of unshelled peanuts as well as provide mechanization services, in-kind credits, and loans to local farmers. A reduction in production costs and postharvest losses and a 40 percent increase in profitability are expected as a result of the project.
On behalf of the farmer-beneficiaries, Aramal-Tocok FFF MPC Chairman Saturnino Distor expressed his gratitude to the DA, the local governments, and other institutions that have helped the cooperative.
“Pinaghirapan po namin ito sa loob ng tatlong taon simula pa lang sa pagbuo ng business plan. Kaya naiiyak ako kapag nakikita ko itong building na pinaghirapan natin, at least nandito na ngayon,” Distor shared.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. congratulated the cooperative and expressed high hopes for its members.
“Sana magamit ang facility sa tamang paraan para lalong umangat ang kabuhayan at kita ng farmers. Gawin nating bankable at sustainable ang farming,” he said.
Further conveyinh his support to the co-op and to the Pangasinense farmers, the agriculture chief also shared that the Department is currently assessing their needs, including the possible provision of peanut seeders to enhance the implementation of the newly turned-over project.
“Nakatutok tayo sa peanut at tobacco industries para lalo pa kayong masuportahan. Rest assured na nandito ang DA at PBBM para suportahan ang industriya ng agrikultura,” the Secretary expressed.
Aside from the peanut consolidation and storage facility, the Aramal-Tocok FFF MPC is also a recipient of the DA’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program.
The turn-over ceremony was also attended by DA Regional Field Office (RFO) I OIC-Regional Director Dr. John Pascual, DA-National Irrigation Administrator Eduardo Guillen, Pangasinan Provincial Government Board Member Jerry Rosario, San Fabian Municipal Vice Mayor Constante Agbayani, Federation of Free Farmers of the Philippines Chairperson and former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, Magsasaka Partylist Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat, SINAG Chairman Rosendo So, and other local officials and farmers. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)
