Small businesses of agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBO) in Ilocos Region continue to grow amid the adverse economic impact of Covid-19, an official of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said on Wednesday.
In a news statement, DAR-Ilocos Regional Director Primo Lara reported that from January 2021 to August 2021, ARBOs’ market sales increased by 193 percent compared to the same period last year.
“We are happy and proud of the ARBOs because this is the biggest increase recorded in the entire Philippines,” Lara said.
Compared to the market revenue of ARBOs of P54.7 million in 2020, they year sold up to P105.3 million this year.
“As a result, the Ilocos Region has one of the highest market revenues in the country,” Lara added.
DAR Assistant Regional Director Ma. Ana Francisco said the department assists ARBOs in their product development and agri-business ventures.
“We help these ARBOs by providing [them] facilities and equipment for their products, we link them to buyers, and we also provide training on entrepreneurship,” Francisco said.
Among the many DAR-assisted ARBOs of Pangasinan, the Bantog Samahang Nayong Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Asingan earned P29.1 million from January to July 2021.
“This ARBO engages in raising carabaos. They [earn their income] by selling dairy products mainly, fresh milk and yogurt to school cafeterias and grocery stores,” Francisco said.