IN THE bid to help farmers prevail over the problems currently besetting the agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has organized an agricultural information caravan and technology forum in Silay City recently.
DA Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Jenito Balairos, in a statement, said the agency is now addressing the plunging farm gate price of palay and strictly monitoring the possible entry of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Fall Armyworm in the country.
Balairos assured farmers that the agency will continue to provide them with appropriate input subsidies, irrigation system, farm machinery, postharvest facilities, easy access credit, and technology training.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, for his part, said they are now finalizing the guidelines to ease the plight of local rice farmers.
Under the province's Economic Enterprise Development program, Masculino said they will be procuring fresh palay from Negros Occidental farmers at P15 per kilogram.
"We will buy their palay, dry, mill, store and sell it for P35 per kilo," he said, adding that they also partnered with the National Food Authority (NFA) in setting up buying station at the Negros First Rice Processing Complex at Barangay Tabunan in Bago City.
About 150 farmers, fisherfolk and animal raisers in Silay City attended the caravan and forum.
They learned how to avail of the various interventions from the government to further their farm productivity and income.
During the activity, representatives from the DA banner programs, Regional Crop Protection Center, Soils Laboratory, and Engineering Division discussed the various projects and interventions they provide to the farming communities.
Meanwhile, resource persons from the NFA, Philippine Carabao Center, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation vowed to continue supporting the farmers.
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), on the other hand, presented their low interest and easy to access credit facilities for agricultural producers like the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund which could be availed by small and marginal farmers. (PR)