O F   F A R M E R – B E N E F I C I A R I E S

A muscovado mill project in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, set up two years ago by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), may soon prove to be one of the strongest showcases for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The 2.5-million project, managed by Task Force Mapalad (TFM) and operated by La Castellana ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative, shows that CARP improves the lives of ARBs by opening economic opportunities, building their confidence to undertake enterprises, and giving them time for social activities that strengthen personal characters and community relations.

The project currently employs 24 workers and produces 432 tons of muscovado sugar per year. Although revenues are modest (annual gross income of P568,800 and net income of P276,000), the prospect for growth is great.

The project is currently raising P10 million to upgrade its facilities. The upgrade, which includes getting equipments of global standards, is expected to increase annual production to 720 tons and gross revenue to P948,000.

TFM also has an ongoing negotiation with two muscovado exporters from Cebu City who each requires a supply of 72 tons, or a total of 114 tons, a month.

Benefitting from this project are at least 180 ARBs from nine TFM-covered haciendas, including Haciendas Velez-Malaga and Cambuktot, where ARBs fought a long-drawn battle for land rights, costing them several lives.

The ARBs bring their sugarcane to the muscovado mill instead of to commercial sugar millers, freeing themselves from the clutches of landlord-dominated market.

The mill had so far sold 108 tons of muscovado sugar worth P3.4 million to Upland Marketing Foundation, Inc. (UMFI), an NGO promoting alternative marketing.

The ARBs may still be far from being considered well-off, but many of them can now better afford to send their children to school, buy basic household appliances, and enjoy other amenities.