The Department of Agriculture in Region 12 (DA 12) officially launched early this week the Rice Resiliency Program dubbed as “ Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19” in the province of South Cotabato
During the launching program held at the Provincial Scion Grove, Nursery and Demonstration Farm at Brgy. Reyes, Banga town, DA-12 Regional Executive Director Arlan M. Mangelen formally turned-over to Provincial Agriculturist Justina Navarette the more than 2,000 bags of certified rice seeds and 5,661 bags of hybrid rice seeds intended for rice growers in South Cotabato.
The farmer-beneficiaries will also receive fertilizers, pesticides, and technical guidance from the agriculture department which are some of the interventions to sustain farming activities in the province to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and maintain food sufficiency.
The agency has allocated PhP449-million comprise of at least 38,074 bags of inbred and hybrid rice seeds for the whole region.
To avail of the program, the farmer beneficiary should be a member of any farmer association duly accredited and identified by the municipal and city agriculture offices.
Members of the Agri-fishery councils can also avail of the program, Mangelen said,
The RRP is a program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the National Rice Program which aims to increase farm productivity and ensure food sufficiency during the COVID-19 emergency situation.
