610 Balbalan farmers get free certified seeds, fertilizers

Balbalan, Kalinga – As part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)- and Rice Resiliency Program (RRP2) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Balbalan LGU Municipal Agricultural Office is currently distributing 575 cavans of certified palay seeds to 10 farmers associations (610 individuals) coming from the 10 barangays in this municipality.

The distribution started on December 15, 2020.

Beneficiaries for the RCEF are the 323 members of Talalang-Sesek-an Farmers Association, Dao-angan Rural Improvement Club, Gallang Irrigators Association, Igubang Rural Improvement Club and Gawaan Farmers Association.

As for RRP2, beneficiaries are the 297 members of Tawang Farmers Association, Buaya Farmers Association for Agricultural Development, Starlights Rural Improvement Club, Pantikian Rural Improvement Club, and Bulo Rural Improvement Club.

In an Interview with Arnel Malaggay, Municipal Agriculturist II of Balbalan Municipal Agricultural Office, he said beneficiaries chosen were farmers who are registered to Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, owners of rice farm and those who are willing to adapt new rice technology.

He further shared the number of bags to be given depends on the land area of the recipient, 1 bag palay seeds will be provided to recipients having 0.1 to 0.5 hectares farm, 2 bags for 0.6 to 1 hectares and 3 bags palay seeds for farmers having a farm area of 1 to 1.5 hectares.

Beneficiaries are then advised to utilize said seeds to serve its purpose and treat as a gift for them as the program are only given to few people which according to him came from taxes being paid to the government.

The Agricultural Officer also extends gratitude to the Local Government Unit of Balbalan for the hauling and transport of said seeds in order for the intervention to reach the community of Balbalan.

Fertilizers, another component of said programs will also be given to the same beneficiaries in January next year.

RCEF is a DA program which aims to ensure food security and to make the country’s agriculture sector viable, efficient and globally competitive while RRP had an ultimate aim of improving the productivity of local rice farmers and increase the level of food adequacy amidst the challenging situation brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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