ILOILO CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- Farmers and fisherfolks in Dumangas, Iloilo availed of fertilizers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) 6.
The distribution of fertilizers is part of the the activities to culminate this year's Farmers and Fisherfolk's Month in Western Visayas.
In a press release, DA 6 has delivered the 21,246 bags of urea fertilizer to the rice farmers of Dumangas, Iloilo, May 28, under the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP).
The fertilizer support complements the distribution of inbred certified seeds and hybrid seeds under the three RRP subprojects including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Enhanced, Expanded Inbred, and the Expanded Hybrid.
The agency turned over the fertilizer allocation for said town through Mayor Ronaldo Golez, who enjoined his constituents to support the DA's initiatives for the development of the sector.
Golez likewise thanked the DA for the interventions extended to their farmers.
Farmer beneficiaries need to present empty sacks of their purchased fertilizer and official receipt upon claiming their fertilizer subsidy from the Municipal Agriculture Office.
A total of 4,023 bags of 50-kilogram per bag of fertilizers are allotted under the RCEF-Enhanced and another 4,023 bags under the Expanded Inbred for good seeds or home-saved seeds.
Meanwhile, 13,200 bags of urea fertilizer are intended for hybrid rice farmers.
Dumangas has 4,255.30 hectares irrigated areas out of 6,173.75 hectares total physical rice areas making it feasible to plant hybrid.
Hybrid seeds allotted for the town will be delivered this week, according to DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter, the press release said.
Dumangas town logs the highest palay production in Iloilo with 69,878.31 metric tons from 6,173.75 hectares rice areas in 2019.
With 5.68 metric tons average yield, Dumangas ranks second with the highest rice production volume next to Bago City, Negros Occidental in the whole Western Visayas as per LGU production report.
As part of the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS), the RRP seeks to ensure food security and adequacy in the country.
“Our government anticipates that other rice-exporting countries might be polling their resources for their population when this health emergency will continue,” Recoter said.
She added that those farmers who listed under the government’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) can avail of free seeds and fertilizers under RRP.
DA still encourages farmers to enlist themselves in the RSBSA to avail DA’s interventions.
Recoter, on the other hand, stressed that farmer-beneficiaries should refrain from selling the input subsidies they will receive from DA.
“Sayang ang investments sang gobyerno kun indi man lang magamit sang mangunguma (The government’s investment is useless if not used by the farmers),” she said.
The activity is also part of the Region's recognition of the farmers' contribution to ensuring food security in the region. (JBG/With report from Sheila Mae H. Toreno/DA-RFO6, RAFIS/photo by Jerem V. De Guzman)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments