City Mayor Pablo C. Ortega led the distribution on Wednesday, April 30, of over 250 bags of hybrid rice seeds, which was allocated to the city for local farmers as one of the counter measures against the continuing rice crisis that had befallen the country.
“This (distribution) is timely as it is our answer to today’s problem,” the Mayor said, “Hopefully, it will double during harvest time,” he added.
Eduvijis Flores, city agricultural officer, added that only farmers who initially took their orders and are on the list in her office will be given to ensure a corruption-free and equal distribution at P300.00 per bag which is considerably cheap as the price is subsidized.
“It is a yearly activity,” Flores said and assured that the city’s rice supply is enough to cater to residents despite shortages experienced in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Flores added that 500 bags of certified palay seedlings will soon arrive as part of the allocation for distribution. The seeds are being supplied by the La Union Seed Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, led by Anselmo Dacumos of Naguirangan, San Juan, La Union.
Mayor Ortega added that the discounted price will help farmers supplement their limited resources in terms of rice seeds buying investment and production.
It was learned that a bag of hybrid seeds will produce approximately 40 kilos of rice. |
