DA provides seed subsidy to farmers
Farmers who were greatly affected by the El Niño phenomenon availed of the seed subsidy from the Department of Agriculture this wet cropping season.
DA Regional Director Larry P. Nacionales said that the farmers who were included in the masterlist submitted by the Municipal Agriculturists must pay P600 only for every bag of inbred certified seeds and P1,000 for every bag of hybrid rice seeds.
Director Nacionales said that as of mid-June this year, the DA has distributed 68,861 bags of inbred certified seeds for the whole Western Visayas or 58 percent of the 118,276 bags targeted for the wet season cropping.
The number of bags of certified seeds distributed were as follows: Aklan-2,133; Antique-5,413; Capiz-10,000; Guimaras-4,083; Iloilo-38,882; and Negros Occidental-8,350.
As of June 16, 2010, the total number of bags of certified seeds available in the warehouse was 50,516. These certified seeds are produced by the seed growers in the whole region. These seed growers undergo training on cultural management practices, pest management and seedbed preparation.
There are 470 accredited seed growers in Region VI with 3,233 has. accredited seed production area.
The seed subsidy of the DA is aimed to recover the losses incurred by the farmers because of the el nino phenomenon and to encourage the farmers to use certified seeds in order to increase their production. The seed subsidy covers both the rainfed and irrigated areas and was implemented last March 16 and will be until September 15 this year.
