8,000 Kalinga farmers get seeds, fertilizer assistance

By Larry T. Lopez

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, March 2 (PIA) — More than 8,000 rice farmers in the province get free rice seeds and fertilizer under the Rice Resiliency Program 2 of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Jose Casibang of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said beneficiaries are farmers tilling three hectares and below who are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sector on Agriculture (RSBSA).

For farmers planting certified seeds, they get two bags urea per hectare while those planting hybrid seeds get three bags urea per hectare.

Meanwhile, DA had adopted the E-voucher system for farmers in Tabuk City who planted later due to adjustment in irrigation system schedule. Under this, farmers who earlier received free rice seeds are given e-coupons for fertilizer claim DA accredited dealers here.

 The e-coupon was resorted since distribution of rice seeds and urea used to be at the same time, Casibang explained.

For Tabuk, DA has allotted P26 million for fertilizer assistance.

DA is providing the fertilizer aid from the Bayanihan Act 2 as government’s intervention to farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The seeds assistance is from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). (JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)