SAN JOSE, Antique – Many farmers have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon. The provincial government will buy palay seeds to be distributed among them.
Nicolasito Calawag, head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said there is no enough supply of palay seeds for the next cropping season in Antique. El Niño was blamed for the seed shortage.
“We will be outsourcing palay seeds,” Calawag said, adding that he already requested a P2-million budget for the purchase.
Antique was placed under a state of calamity on June 13 due to the adverse effects of El Niño.
Farmer Melvin Jamandron, a member of the farmers’ group Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay and Guimaras, said in an earlier interview that they already finished the land preparation for the first cropping season, but were confronted with problems on where to get palay seeds for planting.
“I am still having problems where to get my seeds although I have already prepared my farmland for planting,” said Jamandron, a resident of Barangay Bongbongan II, Sibalom.
Calawag said he will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture over the seed purchase. Bidding will be conducted.
“A sack of palay seeds costs P1,600 right now,” said Calawag. “One farmer will be given a sack of seeds for each hectare of farmland he is tilling.”
He added that farmers who will be given seeds are those identified by the Municipal Agriculture Officers in the 18 towns of the province. (With a report from PNA/PN)
