OROQUIETA CITY -- To mitigate measures of the continuing dry spell, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao awarded on Monday more than P441.7 million worth of farm assistance to the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.
DA Regional Field Office (DA RFO) in Northern Mindanao said the assistance is part of the government’s Agri-Pinoy program for the development of rice and corn, livestock and high value crop production, which are seriously affected with the continuing El Niño phenomenon.
“This agricultural assistance to the two provinces came just in time when farmers are starting to worry on the economic viability of their harvest, and how to recoup their investment. And we, in the DA, will always look for ways to address the concerns of our farmers, especially those badly hit by the dry spell,” said Lealyn Ramos, DA RFO director.
She said the agricultural assistance coming from the national government is a big help for the regional and local offices of the DA in supporting the affected farmers. The agency has already received project support funding from the national government amounting to more than P1 billion.
DA Secretary Proceso Alcala who engaged the stakeholders in a farmer’s forum anchored on theme: “Magandang Ani, Magandang Buhay” personally turned over the assistance ranging from seeds, equipment, machineries and livestock to the farmers and fisherfolk and other stakeholders belonging to the various farmer’s associations in the two provinces.
Misamis Occidental received P267 million that included 600 bags of rice seeds, three threshers, three power tillers and five mud boats to the rice farmer beneficiaries; 1,400 bags of corn seeds, one corn mill, three four wheel-drive tractors, one village type cob dryer and five mechanical shellers to corn beneficiaries; 10 piglets, one packet of sheep, one head of carabao and three heads of cattle to livestock beneficiaries including 3,100 vials or rabies vaccine to the provincial government through the veterinary office; and 2,000 packets of assorted vegetable seeds and 1,200 fruit trees seedlings to farmers engaged in the high value crop development (HVCD) program.
The province also received 93 marine engines and 117 bottom set gill nets from the Bureau of Aquatic Resources (BFAR); assistance from the National Meat Inspection Authority (NMIA); and projects from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
Lanao del Norte which was awarded P174.6 million also received 1,000 bags of rice seeds, three thresher, three power tillers and 40 mud boats for its rice beneficiaries, 1,000 bags of corn seeds, one four-wheel drive tractor and six mechanical shellers for corn beneficiaries; 10 piglets.
One packet of sheep, one carabao and three heads of cattle for the livestock beneficiaries; and 1,200 fruit trees seedlings for HVCD program beneficiaries.
The province also received 107 marine engines, 83 bottom set gill nets and 50 sets of seaweeds farm implements from BFAR notwithstanding projects from Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program.
DA also announced its commitments to award Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte of more projects amounting to P19.5 million and P18 million, respectively, under its rice and corn and livestock programs, aside from the P17.9 million and P40 million worth of projects under the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) scheme of the government through the DA.
The turnover of the DA’s assistance was held in Oroquieta City and in Tubod town in Lanao del Norte. More than 5,000 farmers representing famer’s associations and local government officials and other stakeholders from both provinces were in attendance to receive the various agricultural materials. The event was one of Secretary Alcala’s visitations to the 81 provinces in the country.