SIPALAY City rice farmers received a combined total of P10.33 million Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) from the Department of Agriculture recently.
Some 2,066 farmers who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) of the city were given P5,000 each last June 28, said City Agriculturist Lani Yanong.
Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, the financial assistance is provided as compensation for the projected reduction or loss of farm income throughout the implementation of the Rice Tarrification Law.
Smallholder rice farmers registered since 2021 who own a maximum of two hectares of land were given aid, Yanong said.
The distribution of the financial aid was led by the Department of Agriculture Region 6 in partnership with the Landbank of the Philippines. They were assisted by the Sipalay City Agriculture Office.
Boosting rice production
Twelve farmers from Barangays Gil Montilla and Mamabaroto updated their knowledge on the latest farming technology and rice varieties in the PalaySikatan demonstration last June 4.
The demonstration is part of the RCEF-Seed which aims to update farmers on the latest rice production technology, promote inbred rice seeds, and ultimately increase yield.
The participants learned how to work the granular applicator which expedites sowing as well as expanded their knowledge on how soil nutrient deficiencies affect yield with the Minus One Element Technique (MOET).
The rice farmer beneficiaries will receive planting-to-harvesting guidance from DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) from July until October. They will be assessed and monitored weekly by PhilRice and the City Agriculture Office, said Yanong.
Each will also receive P12,000 worth of financial assistance split in two payouts, she said.
The demonstration was led by representatives from PhilRice and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Negros Occidental. Farmers from Basay town in Negros Oriental also joined the technology demonstration.*