Agrarian reform implementation in Barangay Indag-an, Miag-ao, Iloilo

Abstract

Agrarian Reform is a program set by the government to correct socio-economic imbalances by distributing lands to the farmers who are landless It is a means of uplifting the farmers from social inequalities and the bondage of poverty. Given the nature of the program, it is therefore important to assess the effectiveness of Agrarian Reform Implementation in the community level. Specifically, this is a study of Agrarian Reform Implementation in barangay Indag-an, Miag-ao, Iloilo. The objectives of the study are to describe the processes involved in the implementation of Agrarian Reform in Indag-an, to identify the benefits and support services extended by the program to its beneficiaries, to assess the effectiveness particularly the strengths and weaknesses of the program as perceived by its beneficiaries, to describe the relative effects on male and female household members and lastly, to draw implications on how to improve the Agrarian Reform implementation in the community level. Given these objectives, data were gathered from 35 respondents through a focus group discussion method. Personal interview and a case study were also done to assess the effectiveness of the program. The findings revealed that some beneficiaries believed that they benefitted from the program. Others, however, were a bit cynical towards its implementation. They claimed that the program was biased in Its implementation wherein it caters to the demands of the landlords disregarding the needs and problems of the farmers concerning the distribution of lands. The study further revealed that the support services extended by the program to farmer-beneficiaries centered mainly on agricultural extension, agricultural credit, education and trainings, cooperatives and legal services. Other support services such as infrastructures, health assistance, potable water supply and irrigation system were not provided by the program. As to the strengths and weaknesses of the program, it has been found out that the farmers repressed an ambivalent view about its implementation. They perceived the program as both having strengths and weaknesses wherein the former focused mainly on the processes involved in the distribution of lands while the latter focused more on the insufficient support services provided by the program. Finally, the study revealed that majority of the beneficiaries was male and women beneficiaries comprise only a small number. The male beneficiaries dominated the farm works, relegating women to household chores and aspects of farm work such as planting, weeding, preparing and bringing the food to the fields. However, women were given the opportunity as men in giving opinions, airing their views in the organization. Generally, both had gained from the program, where each has his/her role in farm production, even though the extent of their benefits varies