Aklan farmers get intensified assistance from gov't
KALIBO, AKLAN -- Rice farmers in Aklan are getting intensified assistance from the government to ensure food security for Aklanons as well as to maintain the province' status as a surplus rice producer.
William Castillo, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here, said among the government's assistance extended now to rice farmers here, are loan assistance to hybrid rice farmers and fertilizer assistance through coupons from the Department of Agriculture giving discounts to farmers.
In Aklan, Castillo said a scheme conceptualized by the provincial government to help the farmers and prevent them from being victimized by unscrupulous money lenders is by providing them loans from the Provincial Cooperative Office (PCO) here.
"Under the loan scheme, the farmer can avail of P10,000.00 loan for every hectare of rice he tills with a very low interest. To be deducted from the amount is his share of payment for hybrid rice seeds with the other part already subsidized by the government. His crop will also be covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation," Castillo said.
The loan assistance was also conceptualized so that rice farmers will not be totally at the mercy of money lenders/rice traders, who get their payments in palay form with very low price equivalent.
Eight municipalities are now venturing into hybrid rice farming, according to Castillo. These are Balete, Banga, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, Malinao, New Washington and Tangalan. Of these towns, Malinao and Tangalan have the biggest coverage.
On the part of farmers using certified seeds, Castillo said the government is now fully subsidizing the seeds. Thirteen municipalities in the province are engaged in planting certified seeds. The provincial government has initiated trainings for seed growers too, and envisions that all municipalities in the province could produce their own seed requirements.
Presently, the provincial government under Governor Carlito Marquez is also pushing for the use of organic fertilizer to minimize farming expenses. To realize this, the provincial executive is planning to put up a laboratory in Nalook, Kalibo, to propagate Modified Rapid Composting organism which will hasten the decomposition of farm waste which will be used as organic fertilizer.
The town of Tangalan in the western side of Aklan is already practicing organic farming, and has started utilizing rice stalks and other farm wastes as materials.
Castillo said farmers from Tangalan have also voiced their eagerness to use the decaying rice stalks of other municipalities for fertilizer, and have appealed to them not to burn their rice stalks.
Besides rice farmers, the government is also extending help to hybrid corn farmers under the GMA corn program.
Castillo called on Aklanons to beat hunger and high prices of goods through planting.
"We in Aklan will never go hungry or run out of food if we will be industrious and plant, even for our household consumptions," he called on Aklanons. (PIA)