SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte — The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga recently distributed various fertilizer vouchers to the eight municipalities in the Siargao group of islands in the province of Surigao del Norte.
This initiative served as a significant effort to bolster rice farming on the island, particularly during the 2024-2025 dry cropping season.
The distribution of P5.8 million in rice discount vouchers across eight municipalities in Siargao Island demonstrated a substantial investment in local agriculture that reached a total of 2,537 farmers which is a significant portion of the farming community in the area.
The program utilized three types of vouchers, each targeting a different aspect of rice production such as fertilizer discount vouchers (FDV) with a total amount of P4.2 million, as the largest portion of the aid. These vouchers helped farmers offset the cost of fertilizers considered as a crucial input for maximizing rice yields.
The FDV covered 889 hectares that allowed farmers to have access to the necessary nutrients for their crops.
Also, the distribution of bio-fertilizer discount vouchers (BFDV) with a total amount of P975,500 promoted the use of bio-fertilizers as more sustainable and environmentally friendly than chemical fertilizers, contributing to long-term soil health. The coverage of 393 hectares indicated a push towards more sustainable farming practices.
The soil ameliorant discount vouchers (SADV), on the other hand, with a total amount of P651,000 assisted the farmers in improving their soil quality as soil ameliorants can address issues like acidity or nutrient deficiencies, creating a more fertile environment for rice cultivation. Like the BFDV, the 393-hectare coverage showed a focus on soil health.
The recipient municipalities included Sta. Monica, Burgos, San Isidro, San Benito, Pilar, General Luna, Del Carmen and Dapa. This widespread coverage guaranteed that farmers across the island have access to these vital resources.
Tatay Ruben, a farmer beneficiary from General Luna expressed sincere gratitude for this timely assistance to the farmers. “This support is essential to our farm and livelihood by decreasing the cost and increasing the yield, ” he said.
Distributing the vouchers during the dry cropping season is strategically important. This is a critical period for rice cultivation, and the vouchers provided timely support when farmers needed them the most. (SDR, PIA- Surigao del Norte with a report from DA Caraga)
