DA behind selling of low quality rice seeds to farmers?
Farmers affected by the low germination rate of rice seeds they purchased under the government's Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) rice seeds program are suspecting that there is collusion between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the West Visayas Multi-Purpose and Seeds Producer Association (WVMPSPA) relative to the distribution of low quality rice seeds.
A farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the WVMPSPA do not distribute the rice seeds without the conformity of the department. When distributed to the farmers, the rice seeds are already not in good planting condition and are already blackish in color, the source said.
DA regional director Larry Nacionales and DA Regional Seeds Coordinator Edgar Baylon were not immediately available when reached for their comments regarding the complaint of the farmers. Baylon was in Dingle when called for his reaction.
In the GMA rice seeds program, the government gives subsidies to farmers when procuring rice seeds from an accredited seeds grower. A 40-kilo sack of rice seeds sells at P1,200. The farmer only pays for P440 while the remaining P760 is subsidized by the government. The government has allocated millions of pesos for its rice subsidy program.
The rice seeds program aims to raise palay fields particularly in the country's top 10 palay-growing provinces and step up government efforts to improve the rice sufficiency level. In 2007, Iloilo produced 1.011 million metric tons of rice.
Among the farmers affected by the low germination rate are those in Sta. Barbara, Dueñas, and portion of Pototan.
Under the rice seeds subsidy program, a farmer pays the cost of the rice seeds to their respective municipal agriculture office (MAO). A slip will then be given to them to get the rice seeds at the WVMPSPA warehouse in Buntatala, Jaro.
The source said the germination rate of their seeds is very low because of the low grade rice seeds provided to them by the seeds grower. It appears that the sacks of rice seeds distributed to the farmers have been stored for more than six months, the source added.
Meanwhile, WVMPSPA r manager Rudy De los Santos blamed the farmers for the low germination rate of the rice seeds. He said the farmers failed to follow the proper procedures in planting the rice seeds reason why it has low germination rate.
De los Santos assured that they will return their (farmers) money if it is proven that the rice seeds they purchased were of low quality.