Over 3K rice farmers in E. Samar town receive free seeds, fertilizers from DA

BORONGAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- Some 3,200 rice farmers in Dolores town in Eastern Samar who are beneficiaries of the Rice Resiliency Program (RRP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) received free rice seeds and fertilizers on June 1.

The Rice Resiliency Project is a project of the DA-8 in partnership with the E. Samar provincial government and the municipal LGUs.

OPAS Head Virgilio Caon inspires Dolores farmers to increase their rice production during the distribution of free palay seeds in Dolores town n June 1.(Photo by RJ Ablay)

According to Mr. Teodoro Eric C. Apura, provincial rice program coordinator of the Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services (OPAS), some 1,200 farmer-beneficiaries received each a bag of hybrid rice seeds while the other 2,000 farmer-beneficiaries received 2,000 inbred rice seeds in Dolores town alone.

Apura added that each farmer received one bag or 20 kilos of hybrid rice seeds and three sacks of urea fertilizer or one bag of 40 kilos of inbred rice seeds and two sacks of urea fertilizer per hectare.

RPP farmer-recipients receive rice seeds and fertilizers according to the size of their farmland, Apura said.

Mr. Danilo Alota from Brgy. Villahermosa, a farmer beneficiary, thanked the officials as they understand the situation of farmers in this COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

“I am very thankful for the free rice seeds and fertilizers because most farmers cannot afford to buy the seeds and fertilizers in our barangay,” Alota said.

In Villahermosa, farmers borrow money to buy rice seeds and fertilizers.

Gov. Ben P. Evardone in his message said that with Dolores being the biggest rice producer in the province, he expects that Dolores rice production will complete the needed rice from other towns to make the province 100 percent rice sufficient.

Gov. Ben Evardone inspires the rice farmers in Dolores as he assures of the government support to agriculture in Dolores town on June 1. (Photo: RJ Ablay)

 

Dolores has 6,488 hectares of rice land with 1,200 hectares of irrigated rice fields.

“In other municipalities, they have less rice production because these are coastal areas and the main source of income is fishing,” the governor said.

Evardone said that his administration prioritizes agriculture.

Gov. Ben Evardone cnfers with Dolores Mayor Nino Carpeso before the distribution of free palay seeds in Dolores town on June 1. (Photo: RJ Ablay)

“I will focus on rice production. Eastern Samar is not yet sufficient in terms of rice production,” he added.

According to Mr. Virgilio Capon, provincial agriculturist, Eastern Samar is only 63% rice sufficient. Capon said his office aims for at least 73% rice sufficiency so farmers could earn more.

The DA reiterated its call for farmers to register in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) through their City and Municipal Agricultural Officer to benefit from the programs. (nbq/sdc/PIA E. Samar)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)