BASCO, Batanes — To support local rice farmers. The Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) to 49 farmer-beneficiaries in Itbayat, Batanes.
Marvin Luis, the regional rice coordinator, shared that each farmer received P7,000 in cash to help sustain their farming activities.
He assured that the financial aid reached the farmers directly, despite the logistical challenges and high transportation costs of the island.
Luis also encouraged farmers to increase local rice production and reduce their dependence on rice supplies from the mainland.
“It’s better if we plant ourselves so we no longer have to rely on imports from the mainland,” he emphasized, stressing the importance of food security and self-sufficiency for the province.
Mayor Sabas De Sagon expressed gratitude to the agriculture department for the support, emphasizing that the assistance will greatly help the production of the local farmers.
“Even though we are far, the DA has not forgotten us, especially our farmers. This is a big help for them,” he said.
Through the RFFA program, DA RFO 02 continues to empower farmers in remote areas, providing the necessary support to enhance agricultural productivity and sustain livelihoods. (OTB/PIA 2)
