Farmers, fishers to get P331M worth of free seeds, fingerlings

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will be giving away P331 million worth of free rice seeds, fish fingerlings and assorted equipment to farmers and fisherfolk affected by Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the bulk of the funds or P209 million  has been allotted for subsidized rice seeds.

Alcala, who visited Central Luzon recently, said farmers whose palay (paddy rice) were totally damaged will receive free certified seeds worth P1,200 per hectare, and P600-worth of seeds for partially damaged areas.

Farmers who intend to plant hybrid rice varieties may get an additional P500 seed subsidy per hectare.

A report from Region III said the twin typhoons that inundated the country’s farmlands less than a month ago affected a total of 281,754 hectares of palay, of which 25 percent were completely ruined. Estimated palay loss amounted to 530,000 metric tons valued at P8.6 billion.

Nueva Ecija bore the biggest brunt of the storms, with 145,950 hectares affected, 14,460 hectares or 10 percent of which was totally damaged.  The province will get the biggest seed assistance at P112 million, the DA said.

Tarlac will receive P35-million worth of seeds, followed by Bulacan and Pampanga, with P33 million and P29 million, respectively.

The DA also said it will also give cash grants totaling P20 million to help farmers buy farm equipment and implements such as harvesters, mechanical and solar dryers, hand tractors with trailers, solar dryers, and draft carabaos with implements.

Alcala also directed the National Irrigation Administration  to repair damaged irrigation canals and dikes in Bulacan (worth P52 M), Pampanga (P26.2 M) and Tarlac (P3.5M), amounting to P81.7 M.

For affected fisherfolk, the DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)  has provided an initial package of assistance worth P11.8M, consisting of 10 million tilapia fingerlings (worth P4.5M), 18 million bangus fry (worth P4M), 500 gill nets (P1M), and 300,000 mangrove propagules (P2.3M). Kristine L. Alave