SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), is now distributing certified seeds to farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
Ramona de la Vega, OPA senior agriculturist, said they started giving certified seeds last week to farmers who still need planting materials this wet season.
“We are distributing the certified seeds to the farmers in the towns of Sebaste, Hamtic and Libertad,” she said in an interview.
De la Vega noted they allocated around 80 sacks for Sebaste, 207 for Hamtic and 121 for farmers in Libertad.
“The number of sacks given to the municipalities is based on the number of farmers who have not yet planted,” she said.
De la Vega also said a sack of certified seed given to a farmer is good for a hectare of rice land.
“For the other farmers who still need certified seeds, they could coordinate with their respective Municipal Agriculture Officers so they could request for seeds,” she added.
Last February, the OPA also distributed 1,900 bags of certified seeds to farmers due to the effect of El Niño.
The seeds were the buffer stock stored at the DA warehouse in Barangay Padang, Patnongon town intended for farmers in Antique province.
De la Vega said the certified seeds are being given as assistance to farmers, who were included in the damage report submitted by the MAOs.
“The farmers’ associations may also request for the seeds through a grant recovery roll-over scheme where the farmers will be asked to repay the seeds after their harvest,” she added.
The total area of rice land in Antique province is about 42,154,34 hectares tilled by around 41,280 farmers. (With a report from PNA/PN)
