Amas, Kidapawan City- A total of Php75, 074,000 worth of fertilizers and palay seeds were distributed by the Provincial Government of Cotabato to palay farmers of the province.
The said program benefited at least 20,000 farmers from different municipalities affected by low prices of palay and different calamities for calendar year 2020.
Provincial Rice Coordinator Alan Coronado said that a total of 12,516 bags of rice seeds, 200 bags of hybrid rice seeds, and 40,000 bags of fertilizers were given to local farmers of the province to help them cope from different catastrophe including pandemic.
With the pandemic that the whole country is facing, the provincial government wants to ensure the food sufficiency and boost the food production of the province to cater the needs of farmers and consumers.
In fact, on August 29, 30, and 31, 2020, the provincial government launched the Food Security Program in its three legislative districts as part of the Kalivungan Festival activity, to encourage Cotabateños to plant vegetables in their own backyard and patronize the products produced by local farmers.
It can be recalled, that one of the 8-point legislative agenda of Governor Nancy A. Catamco is to empower local farmers in the province through comprehensive and appropriate programs that will answer their needs.
Aside from fertilizers and palay seeds the OPAg also distributed farm machineries, fruit seedlings, high value crop seedlings (rubber, coconut, cacao, palm oil, and banana) and vegetable seeds. They are also conducting livelihood and skills training to qualified farmer beneficiaries.//pgo-idcd//
