STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan -- The Provincial Government is set to provide fertilizer assistance to farmers whose farms have been affected by pest infestation and suspected defective corn seeds.
Governor Amado Espino III has already approved the fertilizer aid for onion farmers, whose farms have been ravaged by armyworms; and corn farmers, who yielded unfilled corn kernels due to possibly defective corn seeds, provincial agriculturist, Dalisay Moya, said Thursday.
“They could use the fertilizers for the next cropping season,” Moya said.
Recipients of the fertilizer assistance are onion farmers in Malasiqui, Umingan, Alcala, Bautista, and Bayambang; and corn farmers in Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Basista, San Carlos City, Calasiao and Aguilar.
The towns of Bautista and Bayambang have been placed under a state of calamity since Feb. 12 and March 12, respectively, due to armyworm infestation.
In addition, Senator Cynthia Villar has vowed to ask the assistance of the Department of Agriculture for a “cash-for-work” project for the affected farmers.
Meanwhile, to prevent future pest infestation, Moya said a technical briefing on good agricultural practices will be held for famers on March 22.
The Provincial Board committee on agriculture is also conducting an investigation on the suspected defective corn seed variety, known as Dekalb 6999s, which farmers bought from Monsanto Philippines.
Moya said a hearing is set on March 19 for the unfilled corn kernel issue. (PNA)