DA-7 starts farm inputs distribution

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture-7 has started the distribution of hybrid rice seeds and fertilizers to farmer beneficiaries in Central Visayas.

The delivery of farm inputs is under the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) of the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS sa COVID-19).

RRP has 3 sub-projects in time for the wet season planting---Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Enhanced (RCEF-Enhanced), Expanded Inbred Rice Production (beyond RCEF areas) and the Expanded Hybrid Rice Production in Suitable Areas.

The region has allocated hybrid seeds for 10,627 hectares and 107,498 bags of urea fertilizer under ALPAS RRP while the RCEF and the Expanded Inbred projects have also their allocations, respectively.

 DA-7 rice program focal person Cecile Opada said that Bohol ALPAS RRP allocation is 6,769 hectares, RCEF of 18,312 hectares, and the Expanded Inbred (Direct purchase, PLGU - Art 160 & 120, MLGU, Good Seeds & Farmer Home-Saved Seeds) of 6,193 hectares.

"It is expected that Bohol will be planted with High Quality Seeds of around 30,581 hectares," Opada said in a statement.

Opada said that the rice farmer beneficiaries of the hybrid seeds will get three bags of urea fertilizer for free upon purchase of two bags of inorganic fertilizer, while two bags of urea fertilizer for free for every two bags purchased by the farmer under the Expanded Inbred with their proof of purchase presented as their counterpart. This fertilizer scheme is per hectare basis. The total urea fertilizer for Bohol is 80,198 bags.

"For Cebu province, ALPAS RRP allocation is 1,112 hectares but the LGUs availed only a total of 789 hectares due to scarcity of irrigation water for rice production and some of the rice farmers planted already with their own seeds," Opada said.

Opada added that Cebu province is also a beneficiary of the Expanded Inbred of 220 hectares wherein farmers that planted Good Seeds or Farmer Home-Saved Seeds or High Quality Seeds direct purchase can avail of the urea fertilizer from DA with a scheme of buy two take two per hectare.

"Some LGUs have declined their seed allocation because their farmers have planted already so their allocation will be transferred to Bohol Province where 68% of the rice area in the region is situated. Their total urea fertilizer is 2,622 bags," she said.

 She said that Negros Oriental has 2,456 hectares under ALPAS RRP, while RCEF has 7,643 hectares. The total urea fertilizer for the province is 22,924 bags, while Siquijor ALPAS RRP is 200 hectares and 600 bags of urea fertilizer.  FPL (FREEMAN)