LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture turned over more than P130 million-worth of agri- fishery interventions in the Cordillera region to boost agricultural productivity, and ensure food security.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. led the turn-over and distribution of various assistance to farmers, fisherfolks, and irrigators from all over the region during his recent visit in La Trinidad.
Distributed under DA’s Rice Banner Program is the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) where 15 farmers received P5,000 each.
The Cordillera region got a share of more than P619 million benefitting 122,130 eligible rice farmers under the RCEF-
RFFA in 2023.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, the lead agency in the implementation of the RCEF mechanization program, distributed more than P82 million-worth of rice production, and post production facilities and machineries to 31 farmer cooperatives, and the local government units of Kalinga and Ifugao.
Three farmer cooperative associations in Mountain Province also received three units of multi-cultivators worth
P417,000 under the high-value crops development program.
DA also distributed assistance amounting to more than P25 million to typhoon Egay-affected rice farmers of Benguet
thru the Quick Response Fund.
Seven completed irrigation projects of the National Irrigation Administration were turned over to irrigators associations beneficiaries in the region.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also turned over a community fish landing center amounting to P3.7 million in Abra, and a fish cage livelihood project worth more than P2 million to three organizations in Apayao.
