ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Some 1,800 farmers are expected to benefit from the post-harvest facility given by the Japanese Government to the Salngan Agrarian Reform Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Passi City.

The project, a P2.2-million rice mill was availed by the said cooperative with the help of the Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (CARRD), a non-government organization that is devoted to helping various agrarian reform communities (ARCs). “The rice mill will be devoted for the milling of organic rice,” Edwin P. Nerva, CARRD Executive Director said.

The turnover of the new facility Wednesday was led by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura. CARRD, according to Nerva, also helped establish an organic fertilizer production in Passi City and President Roxas in Capiz.

“Our thrust is on sustainable agriculture through organic farming. We came in after lands have been transferred to their beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),” he said.

He added that they will continue to extend assistance to farmers in terms of support services so that they would be able to cultivate the portions of land that have been granted to them through the CARP.