Despite  the crisis that is crippling the country’s economy , the Department of Agriculture Bicol thru the High Value Crops Development Program headed by Mary Grace Rodriguez, OIC chief Operations Division, provides unhampered assistance to farmers  by distributing various vegetable seeds to commercial vegetable growers in selected parts of Camarines Sur. The activity took place on May 21-22,2020 at the  DA Operations Division  building.

Assorted  vegetable seeds which included 96 cans of ampalaya seeds, 334 cans of Hot pepper, 304 cans tomatoes, 79 pouches pole sitao, 55 cans pechay, 10 pouches snap beans, 12 cans cucumber, 718 cans eggplant,  26 cans upo, 10 pouches snap beans, 4 cans patola, 718 cans eggplant, 5 cans chilli pepper, 334 cans hot pepper, 22 pouches mungbeans   were received by the Agricultural Extension Workers /coordinators and association representatives .

Rona Huit , HVCDP coordinator from Caramoan Camarines Sur  said that the seed distribution is timely since the farmers  really need to replace their crops. “Kailangan nilang mag palit- tanim para hindi mahinto ang produksyon ng gulay” she said.  “Masaya ang mga  magsasaka dahil may kalidad and binigay sa kanilang buto, siguradong tutubo ito ng maayos at magkakaroon sila ng kita” she added.

Recipients were: Cabungan Organic Farmers Association (COFA), Balatan ; Baliuag Viejo Farmers Association, Minalabac; Federation of Integrated Farmers of Tinambac; Iriga City Vegetable Federation; Tampadong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, Pamplona ; Siba-0 Farmers Association, Milaor; De La Fe Farmers Irrigators Association (DUFIA), Sta Justina Mushroom and Vegetable Growers Association (SAMVEGA), Barangay Salvacion United Farmers Association (BSUFA), Buhi; Damolog  Farmers Association; Bahay Integrated Farmers Association & Salvacion Farmers Association, Caramoan Camarines Sur. Aside from the vegetable seeds, each Association also  received 20 pcs of seedling tray. (B. Nunez; photos: E. Pasumbal)