Local governments urged to ease requirements for RCEF

File photo
File photo

THE Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-Davao) has asked the local government units (LGUs) to take out the proof of ownership requirements from farmers to fully distribute the rice seedlings under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

This is in response to the report of the City Agriculturist Office (CAO) that tenant farmers in Davao City struggled to secure the rice seeds from the government for not having proof of ownership in the land they tended.

DA-Davao regional director Ricardo Oñate said he suggested the officials of the local government and the municipal agriculture office to certify the farmers in their area as a minimum requirement in granting rice seedlings.

“Bakit hindi natin ipa-certify lang ang municipal agriculturist and the barangay kapitan. It should be vouched by the municipal agriculture and the mayor nga kani gyud siya nag okupar aning dapita (Why not let the farmers be certified by the municipal agriculturists and the barangay captain? They should be vouched by the municipal agriculture and mayor that they are tending farms in their area),” he said at the sidelines of the press conference, Wednesday.

He said the certification would allow farmers to avail of the free seeds even if they are only tenants.

“Kung mutabang ta, dili nato palisod lisuron kay karamihan sa atong mag uuma, tenant na sila (If we want to help, we should not make it difficult for them because most of our farmers here are just tenants),” he said.

Oñate also admitted they have reservations with the suitability of some rice seed varieties recommended by Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) for the farms in the region.

He cited the bidding process has also affected the decisions about what variety should be planted in the rice farms.

CAO rice program focal Narcisa Comiling previously noted farmers also preferred other varieties than the four varieties being distributed to them by the DA.

The available varieties were said to produce less desirable yield and prone to diseases and infestations. It has contributed to the low turnover of seeds.

Among the rice varieties being distributed is the NSIC222 which the Philrice considered to be ideal in Central Luzon for the dry and wet season.

“Their (rice seeds) suitability depends on the environment, planting season, and field conditions,” Philrice said on their website.

However, Oñate said for the seeds to grow successfully, it should be delivered to the farmers and planted at the right timing.

“Karamihan sa variety haom man so yung point na lang, yung delivery (Most of the rice varieties are suited but the timing of delivery of seed to the farmers is important),” he said.

Oñate also echoed the farmers’ clamor for fertilizers alongside the seedlings.

“Kasi pag tinanong natin ang mga farmers nga gilibre ang seeds, ‘musukol mi iapil, libre ang fertilizer’ (When we told farmers that the seeds are free, they say they avail if the fertilizer is also free),” he said.

Comiling said the farmers given with the seeds must hit a target yield to be able to avail another round of seeds but it is only possible if they can have enough fertilizers for their fields.

“Mao nay mulo gyud sa atong mga kaigsuonan (That is the concern of the farmers). If that will be addressed, well that is good,” Onate said.

The rice seedling distribution is part of the allocation of the RCEF as mandated by Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph