ILOILO – The effect on the agriculture and fishery sector of soaring oil prices has a sudden impact on the economic vulnerability of the farmers especially those that are dependent on petrol products in farm production.
Eighty-four corn farmers from Sara town and 25 from Estancia received their P3,000 fuel discount cards from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
DA launched the Fuel Discount Program 2022 for corn farmers and fisherfolk. The discount shall be primarily used for all types of machinery in corn production from land preparation to postharvest and processing activities as well as motorized boats for fishing operations.
Leah Abuniawan Jabagat of the Del Castillo Community Association (DECA) was thankful for the assistance they have received.
“More than 3,600 hectares of corn areas in the municipality of Sara is being cultivated. A farmer has average produce of seven tons of corn every hectare which eventually made it impossible for them to market their products due to increasing hauling expenses brought by the oil price hike,” said Jabagat.
Meanwhile, Roberto Mosqueda, a corn farmer in Barangay Lumbia, Estancia, said this fuel assistance is a big aid for him and to other corn farmers in Estancia.
“Ang ini nga fuel discount daku gid ang bulig sa amon nga mga mangunguma ilabi na gid nga sige ang pagsaka sang presyo sang gatong,” he said./PN
