SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Feb. 26 (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA RFO-1) remains steadfast in its commitment to assist farmers in the Ilocos Region to increase agricultural productivity.
Regional Technical Director Dennis Tactac said the provision of the interventions and assistance helps not only farmers to gain more profit but also boosts agriculture productivity, thus, increasing the food sufficiency of the region.
“We can say that Ilocos Region remains food sufficient considering that we noted more than 100 percent sufficiency level on the production of our major commodities such as palay, corn, tomato, onion, mango, garlic, mung bean, cattle, goat, swine, and chicken,” Tactac said.
“Our reference is still the data we have in 2022 because we are still waiting for the agricultural production numbers for 2023 from the Philippine Statistics Authority,” he added.
In the pipeline for DA RFO-1 are various agricultural supports such as cash assistance, rice seeds, fuel subsidies, and machinery for 2024.
This year, Tactac said a total of P1.13 billion in financial assistance is allocated for rice farmers in the region.
Some 342,463 packs of rice seeds were also procured by the DA for distribution.
Farmer-beneficiaries can also expect fuel subsidies this year.
“Our fuel subsidy is still in process, and what we will do is ensure our beneficiaries this year will be the non-recipient farmers last year,” he said during the Kapihan sa Ilocos episode of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
On the other hand, cooperatives and associations under DA or the Cooperative Development Authority will be given combined harvesters, tractors, pump and engine sets, seeders, and transplanters.
“We still don’t have successful bids, but we are hopeful that by next month, all is set and we can have the awarding,” Tactac said.
Also, DA has created market linkages and provides technical assistance among farmers in the region.
Meanwhile, as the El Niño phenomenon is expected to impact the country, DA advocates water-saving strategies and practices in farming as it urges the farmers to continuously produce amid the threats of the dry spell. (JCR/AMB/CGCC/PIA Region 1)
NOTE: The Kapihan sa Ilocos is a one-hour radio program of the PIA-Regional Office 1 aired live every Friday at 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM over eight partner-carrying radio stations regionwide.
