By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay
In San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked PHP 119.4 million for rice farmers, providing seeds and production support services for the upcoming first cropping season beginning in May.
“Rice seeds and various production support services will be readily available in Antique before the commencement of the first cropping period,” stated Sonie Guanco, the Chief of the Agriculture Program Coordinating Office (APCO) in Antique, during an interview on Wednesday.
Support services include fertilizers, soil ameliorants and bio-fertilizers.
Guanco said DA wanted to assist farmers with difficulty sourcing seeds and other inputs due to the El Niño phenomenon.
DA Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia, during his courtesy call with Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao on Monday, said they will implement rice program interventions for farmers during the first cropping period.
“We know that the El Niño phenomenon is about to end, and farmers will be preparing to plant for the first cropping period or the wet season so there will be interventions to be provided to them,” he said.
The support is available to farmers registered with the Registry System for the Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA), a profiling system of farmers.
The hybrid seed and fertilizer distribution targets 7,506 hectares, while the inbred or certified seeds will cover 11,107 hectares.
Also, 5,006 hectares under the hybrid cluster will receive soil ameliorant and bio-fertilizers, and 2,428 hectares for those using inbred or certified seeds. (PNA)
