THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon has formally launched the Fertilizer Voucher Scheme program under the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) II.
The launching was led by Regional Rice Program Focal Person Lowell Rebillaco at the TNC Agriculture and Poultry Supply in Hermosa, Bataan on Monday, February 22.
The RRP II project is part of the Plant, Plant, Plant Program with the aim of increasing and boosting local rice and rice production to combat the threat to food security in the country. The DA will provide free fertilizer and a variety of seeds for farmers from rice-harvesting regions.
The Fertilizer Voucher Scheme program started with twelve farmers who were given a fertilizer voucher. The vouchers enable them to get their respective free fertilizer from.
Lowell Rebillaco shared the qualifications to receive a fertilizer voucher. According to him, the recipients of the fertilizer voucher will be farmers registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), those who planted rice this dry season from and farmers who have not yet received fertilizers.
“Those who want to become fertilizer suppliers and distributors also have qualifications. Those who want to be able to supply fertilizer will be checked by the Agriculture Provincial Coordinator (APCO) to see if they are qualified or unable to supply fertilizer to the farmers who are the beneficiaries of this program," he said.
One of the beneficiaries is farmer Ariel Cordova from Hermosa, Bataan who owns a three-hectare paddy field. He obtained six Urea fertilizers (46-0-0) and three sacks of Complete fertilizer (14-14-14) out of a total of P9,000 fertilizer voucher from the Department.
“I am grateful to the DA program for the help they gave to our farmers here in Hermosa. This is a big help because we know that last year the price of rice fell. Without it we might be in deep debt. So thank you Sir William Dar, I hope you do not get tired of helping us, "he added.
The issuance of fertilizer vouchers will last until June 30 this year.