Friday, January 11, 2008 PB grants incentives to farmer volunteers
TO RECOGNIZE the efforts of farmers who assist the government in promoting agricultural development in the villages, the Benguet Provincial Board (PB) passed an ordinance granting incentives to these farmer volunteers.
Known as the ordinance accrediting the barangay farmers agricultural extension workers, the measure gives each farmer volunteer an incentive amounting to P1,000 per month.
The barangay agricultural extension workers are farmers who are elected or designated to represent farmers organization in a barangay to attend meetings, conferences related to the agriculture industry or volunteer to give reports and assist government workers in promoting agricultural development programs in the barangays.
The PB said there is a need to give incentives to these volunteer farmers to recognize the assistance they give to the government.
All the farmer volunteers in the province’s 140 barangays are covered by the ordinance.
Seminars and trainings would also be provided to these farmer leaders in order to enhance their services.
“There is a need to develop the skills, knowledge, orientation and other capabilities of the farmer volunteers to enable them to be responsive to the needs of their co-farmers,” the ordinance said.
Municipal governments are also encouraged to provide incentives and other benefits to their respective farmer volunteers.
Farmers who are interested to become leaders should be willing to extend his or her services in the field of agriculture. He or she must be chosen or designated by the farmers organization in his or her barangay. (JC)
