THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated the distribution of discounted fertilizers through the Davao de Oro Provincial Agriculturist's Office (DOPAO) to alleviate the burden of high fertilizer costs in the market. The effort was launched during a rice farmers' caravan in the province on Tuesday, August 22.
As shared in a Facebook post by the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro, more than a thousand beneficiaries from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Nabunturan received the discounted fertilizers on August 17, 2023, at the Municipal gym.
The farmers expressed gratitude for the initiative, as the consistently high fertilizer prices had posed significant financial challenges. The provision of discounted fertilizers eases this financial strain and proves essential in their agricultural pursuits.
The initiative stems from the National Rice Program, which aims to provide vouchers to farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) who cultivated rice during the 2023 wet season. Eligibility is extended to those who received inbred and hybrid seeds from the DA.
Arnel de Mesa, DA assistant to the secretary for operations, explained on the DA website that the price reduction amounts to P1,131 for every hectare (ha) planted with inbred seeds and P2,262 for every ha of hybrid seeds.
Farmers are offered a selection of organic and inorganic fertilizers, foliar fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, and bio-stimulants.
Notably, except the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), all regions in the Philippines are included in the voucher program.
The DA underscores that the voucher can only be redeemed at accredited merchants approved by the department.
Each municipality has been allocated a specific share, and the goal is to complete distribution by September. RGP