Ang Pahayagan

CABANGAN, Zambales — For Marife Fernandez, farming is no longer seen as a livelihood of hardship, but as a pathway to opportunity and business growth.

As president of the San Rafael, Cabangan Crops and Livestock Farmers’ Association, Fernandez has witnessed how a small group of farmers in Barangay San Rafael transformed into a thriving enterprise with the support of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The association, an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO), was established to unite local farmers and enable them to access government assistance that was difficult to obtain individually. By working together, members were able to strengthen their operations and improve their livelihoods.

According to Fernandez, the organization’s breakthrough came when DAR Zambales stepped in through its Program Beneficiaries’ Development Division (PBDD). Beyond providing equipment, DAR helped the group formalize its operations by guiding members through registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and conducting training in basic accounting, business planning, and policy formulation.

Five years ago, the association had only 31 members and faced major challenges, including limited equipment and an irrigation system that relied solely on rainfall. Production was low, and members often had to borrow machinery from other groups.

Today, the association has expanded to 53 active members and now owns machinery for vegetable production and livestock raising, including facilities for pigs and goats. DAR also provided two tricycles that are used to transport fresh produce to markets across Zambales.

The group also secured stable buyers through the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, which connected the farmers with the National Nutrition Council (NNC). Through this partnership, the association supplies fresh produce for government feeding programs.

In addition to institutional buyers, the organization operates its own KADIWA store, offering vegetables, meat, and grocery items daily. Members also market their products through social media, taking orders from nearby barangays and delivering directly to customers.

The association is now preparing to expand into meat processing. With continued support from DAR, members plan to launch their own products, including longganisa, siomai, and tocino, for distribution to government agencies and other large institutions.

Beyond economic gains, the organization is encouraging younger generations to view farming as a dignified and rewarding profession.

Fernandez said the outdated notion that farmers are poor should be set aside, emphasizing that farmers are entrepreneurs who help sustain the country’s food supply and economy.

Through DAR’s assistance, the San Rafael, Cabangan Crops and Livestock Farmers’ Association has evolved from a small group dependent on rain-fed farming into a growing enterprise that contributes to food security and local economic development in Cabangan.

📸 DAR Zambales