DAR holds dialogue with Muslim farmers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held a dialogue with Muslim farmers recently.

DAR Undersecretary David Erro led the discussion with 300 members of the Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Muslim People).

Many Moro farmers remain landless due to the presence of corporate agricultural plantations and large-scale mining and logging companies in their communities, according to Amirah Ali Lidasan, Suara Bangsamoro president.

Erro assured the farmers that under the genuine agrarian reform program, farmers, rural workers and indigenous folk will receive agricultural lands.

Erro said farmers should have control and ownership of the lands they cultivate so they can fully benefit from it.

Seven of 10 farmers remain landless, according to a study by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

More than 9,000 landlords own over 20 percent of agricultural lands or around 2.8 million hectares, according to the study.