The Department of Agriculture in Region 11 turned-over a total of P3.34-Million (M) worth of agricultural production inputs and facilities to the provincial government of Davao Occidental on January 23, 2018.
The assistance was awarded during the Tapatan forum attended by more than 500 farmers and fisherfolk from the towns of Malita, Santa Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani.
“I cannot promise you miracle but I will respond to your concerns the best way I could,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said in his message.
“I have never stopped travelling, because I see it as an opportunity to help you, because it touches my heart whenever I see people for the first time avail government services,” he added.
As such, the Secretary committed P50 million (M), thru the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, for the implementation of Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) credit program.
In addition, Piñol announced that DA has opened up a Farm Machinery Loan Assistance under which farm groups can borrow up to P50M to finance farm equipment and inputs of their preferred brands. The loan is payable in eight years at two percent interest per annum.
During the activity, DA-11 distributed 75 bags of inbred seeds with 75 bags complete fertilizers (P192, 000); 20 bags of hybrid rice seeds with 80 bags complete fertilizers, a set of 80 bags urea fertilizers and 20 bags Muriate of Potash each for Malita and Sta. Maria for their respective 20 hectare (ha) hybrid rice model farms (P225,080); 300 bags of OPV corn seeds (P375,000); 100 packs of vegetable seeds (P6, 000); 200 durian seedlings (P6,000); 100 guyabano seedlings (P3, 000); 100 mangosteen seedlings (P3,000); 7,400 doses of various animal drugs and biologics (P144, 056); 3 units of liquid nitrogen in mother tanks (P147,000); 3 units of liquid nitrogen in field tanks (P55,000); and 25 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds.
DA-11 also awarded the provincial government of Davao Occidental thru Governor Claude Bautista P2M in funds for the establishment of multiplier farm in the province.
Another set of assistance was provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-11) consist of 50 sets of fishing gears with complete set of gill nets (P115, 000), 2 units of elevated solar dryer (P20, 000), and 4 units of smoke houses (P52, 000).
The agri chief also directed BFAR-11 to deploy ships in the area, which will be called as “The Food Boat”, to help the fisherfolk deliver marine products to urban cities. The initiative was allotted an initial funding of P250 M.
“Itong mga barkong ito, refrigerated na, tutulong sila sa paghahakot ng mga isda papunta sa Manila. Pwede din isama din dito iyong mga prutas tulad ng saging,” Piñol said. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
