The Department of Agriculture in Bicol distributed agricultural interventions worth a total of P135 million to rice, high value crops, and poultry farmers on May 15, 2023 in Pili, Camarines Sur.
The mass distribution of interventions was funded under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) and regular fund of the Rice Program, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and Livestock and Poultry Program for the benefit of farmers affected by typhoon Paeng and Karding last year.
DA-Bicol’s Rice Program distributed 10,213 bags of hybrid palay seeds, 3,040 bags of zinc sulfate, 42,264 liters of foliar fertilizer, 42,414 packs of plant growth enhancer (AMO), 21,332 packs of plant growth enhancer (HUMIK), 6,075 pieces of laminated sacks and 25 units of knapsack sprayer. The P133.53 million-worth interventions benefitted five farmer associations and 37 local government units from the five districts of Camarines Sur.
Meanwhile, the HVCDP also gave four units of Pump Irrigation – in Camarines Sur namely the CLLS Federation of High Value Crops Inc. in Libmanan, Federation of Integrated Farmers of Tinambac in Tinambac, Pilinio Federation of High Value Crops Growers Inc. in Pili, and Itulan Farmers Association in Pasacao.
Moreover, the Livestock and Poultry program distributed 570 heads of free-range chicken as rehab aid to the local government unit of Pioduran, the Sangguniang Kabataan ng Barangay New San Roque, Caramoan Farmers Irrigators Association and the 9th Military Intelligence Batallion, 9th Infantry Division Philippine Army.
According to DA-Bicol Field Operations Division Chief Dr. Mary Grace Rodriguez, the mass distribution of interventions is the DA-Bicol’s way of honoring the farmers and fisherfolk who toil all year round to ensure the country’s food security.
Also, Farmer-Director and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairperson Bernadette de los Santos thanked the DA-Bicol for its proactive support to the agri-fishery sector in the region.
“Proactive po ang DA, uda pa kita problema, agko na solusyon (The DA is proactive, it already has a solution before a problem occurs),” she said.
Likewise, Jenny Retreta, Chairman of Santiago Old-San Antonio Ogbon-Sta. Cruz.-Sto. Domingo-Sta. Eulalia-La Purisima Farmers Irrigators Association in Nabua, Camarines Sur thanked the DA-Bicol for the QRF interventions they received saying “Salamat po sa mga nakuko namo ko tabang ko DA. Salamat kag mga asosasyon namo ta kami po dakulong tabang ading makakukuon, makakatabang kang namong asosasyon (Thank you very much to the Department of Agriculture for the assistance given to us. This will greatly help our association).”
The Ceremonial Distribution of Interventions was conducted as part of the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Month celebration this May. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V)
