483 Davao farmers get aid from DA’s unconditional cash program

Ruth Palo

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posted on 4 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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DAVAO CITY- A total of 483 rice farmers here received cash aid from the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as part of its key programs to help the rice farmers in Davao region affected by the liberalized rice trade.

Each farmer received P5,000 unconditional cash assistance which would help them revive and support in paying for the agricultural inputs.

The said cash assistance is a continuation of the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) which is an excess of the P10-Billion annual appropriation for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) from the rice importation tariff revenues.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo said that it is timely for rice farmers to receive the assistance in this time of health emergency to help augment their financial expenses this cropping season.

"Unlike other crops, rice farming is both financial and labor intensive as our farmers need to start anew every planting season," he said.

Identified farmer beneficiaries of said program are those tilling two hectares and below rice farms and were affected by the low buying price of palay.

Apart from the cash assistance, the beneficiaries also received their Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC) which serves as an ID and cash card for validated farmers.

Monteagudo also encouraged rice farmers to come together and be organized for a more cost-efficient rice production, processing and marketing.

“As we continue to help our rice farmers achieve optimum yield and increase income, there is also a need for farm clustering for them to have better access to resources, technologies and markets,” he said in a statement.

For 2022, the agency will release a total of P130.7 million intended for

25,789 rice farmers in Davao Region. Of this amount, P53.6-million is allocated for the 10,614 rice farmers in Davao del Norte; and P27.8-million for the 5,492 farmers in Davao del Sur.

DA 11 will also allocate P26.8-million for the 5,286 farmers in Davao de Oro; and P22.3-million to be given to 4,397 farmers in Davao Oriental.

Currently, the department is now in close coordination with other municipalities in the region to fast track the distribution to help rice farmers this cropping season.

DA is continuously distributing free high quality rice seeds, fertilizers and agri-machinery to rice farmers in Davao region as one of its key strategies to transform the Philippine agriculture especially the rice industry into a modern and industrialized sector.