DAVAO ORIENTAL — Aiming to boost food security and production amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the provincial government of Davao Oriental through the Provincial Agriculture Office and the Department of Agriculture XI recently distributed palay seeds to Davao Oriental rice farmers.
Under the province’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program — one of the components of its Rice Resiliency Project — a total 10,872 bags of palay seeds have been distributed throughout the province benefiting a total of 10,625 farmers.
The distribution in the province’s east coast towns was held last week. The areas covered were the rice-producing towns of Boston which received 273 bags, the municipality of Cateel which received 4,999 bags, Baganga which received 900 bags, and Caraga which received 400 bags.
Also receiving palay seeds are the rice-producing municipalities in the province’s gulf towns. The municipality of Banaybanay received 2,600 bags, Governor Generoso town with 400 bags, and Lupon with 1,300 bags.
Under the program, the palay seeds is set to be planted to a total of 5,436 hectares.
Aside from the palay seeds, the province and the DA XI also provided 10,872 bags of fertilizers.
Meanwhile, still under the Rice Resiliency Project, the Expanded Inbred Rice Production has provided 2 bags of urea fertilizer for farmers who provided a counterpart of 2 bags of fertilizers.
On the other hand, under the Enhanced Hybrid Component of the Rice Resiliency Project, the province has provided a total of 2,934 bags of urea fertilizers intended for a total of 978 hectares area to be planted with rice.
Provincial Agriculture Office Department Head Mr. Rotchie Ravelo said that these programs are the provincial government’s efforts to hopefully make the province a lead rice-producer while helping rice farmers boost their yield.
Currently, the province of Davao Oriental has a 93 percent rice sufficiency. With the palay seeds along with the fertilizers, the province hopes to boost the province’s rice production — enough for the consumption of its people and for distribution to other provinces and cities.
Meanwhile, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said that the province will include in the next year’s budget an allocation for mechanical rice harvester for the municipalities. He said mechanization is important as the province has implemented the quick turn-around program, wherein re-planting is done immediately only a month after the harvest.
Governor Dayanghirang thanked the farmers for doing their huge share in feeding the people as he challenged them to do make use of what they are receiving from the government.
Moreover, he assured the farmers that the government is doing its best to also take care of the farmers who are feeding the nation.
“We really have to take care of our farmers. We are keenly looking into their plight, especially in this time of pandemic. Through their hard work, we can still provide food for our people. We thank them for being consistent, persevering and being sensitive to the needs of others, while thinking also to provide for their respective families. We cannot imagine facing this challenge without them,” he said.
“We have to continuously work hard and be united. We have to be in this together. The government cannot do it without the cooperation and support of the people,” he said. By: Neela Duallo with PIO/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
