LAOAG: A total of PHP49.97 million worth of agricultural inputs will be distributed starting Wednesday to farmers devastated by this month’s Super Typhoon Julian and Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. In an interview Tuesday, provincial agriculturist Teresa Bacnat said the provincial government provided PHP46.3 million while the Department of Agriculture (DA) provided PHP3.67 million augmentation to procure inorganic fertilizers and vegetable, hybrid corn, and rice seeds.
According to Philippines News Agency, the distribution will be held in various locations, including the Bangui auditorium for the towns of Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, and Burgos; Vintar auditorium for Bacarra, Pasuquin, and Vintar; Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center compound for Laoag City, Sarrat, and San Nicolas; Piddig auditorium for Piddig, Carasi, and Solsona; Marcos auditorium for Dingras, Marcos, Banna, and Nueva Era; Imelda Cultural Center for Batac City and Paoay; and Pinili auditorium for those from Pinili
, Badoc, and Currimao.
“Most of the rehabilitation inputs such as the 15,000 bags of inorganic fertilizers and almost 800 bags of hybrid corn seeds were requested by our farmers because it is now the planting season for corn,” Bacnat said. She noted that rice farmers might also avail of corn seeds to augment the ongoing intervention from the provincial government and boost food security amid threats of natural calamities.
Farmers may also request assorted vegetable seeds available at the Sustainable Development Center under the provincial government. To expedite farmers’ requests for assistance, they can contact the Agri Ka Dito hotlines or send emails along with a copy of their valid identification cards. Alternatively, farmers may visit the Provincial Agriculture Office in Barangay 2, Laoag City, or the Sustainable Development Center for crop assistance requests.
Crisner Lagazo, owner of Crisner Integrated Farms in Pasuquin town, expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “Farmers in Ilocos Norte are
fortunate and blessed by various aids given by the local and national governments. We cannot thank enough our governor for his leadership and for ensuring full-service assistance-from pre-planting to marketing, to produce more through technology and mechanization, and improve our irrigation.” The Crisner Integrated Farms serves as one of the province’s learning sites for agriculture.