MORE than 3,900 rice farmers in Lanao del Norte received P19.7 million cash aid from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Mindanao as part of the agency's third distribution of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers' Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) Program for the year 2022.
According to DA-Northern Mindanao, each of the 3,940 eligible rice farmers in the province received P5,000-cash assistance,
These rice farmers were identified through their registration in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture and have tilled or owned rice areas not exceeding two hectares.
The RCEF-RFFA is in support of the Rice Tariffication Law, strengthening rice farmers through financial aid and underpinning increased quality and productivity of rice from Filipino farmers.
Nonito Punzalan, one of the rice farmer-beneficiaries in Lala, Lanao del Norte, expressed her gratitude to DA, saying that the cash assistance will help with the finances of their rice production.
Punzalan is a rice farmer for 49 years and a first-time RFFA beneficiary. (SunStar Cagayan de Oro)