DA assists typhoon-affected Abra farmers

by Maritess Benas

Bangued, Abra (27 February) — The Department of Agriculture while to bracing the farmers for the El Nino which is now affecting parts of the country, is fastracking its quick recovery program for farmers gravely affected by typhoon Pepeng last year.

In a report by OIC Provincial Agriculturist Jesus Villamor, Jr., the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG) has distributed to 25 municipalities the certificates of entitlement to about 5,000 farmers who have been gravely affected by Typhoon Pepeng last year. Only the municipalities of Lacub and Boliney were not included in the distribution.

The said program is the Department of Agriculture’s Quick Recovery Program in the form of fertilizer subsidy to the farmers who have not recovered from the adverse effects of the strong typhoon.

About 3,442 hectares of ricelands have been directly affected by typhoon Pepeng in the province. A total of 17,210 bags of fertilizers were provided for the quick response program of the DA. At least three bags of complete fertilizer and two bags of urea per hectare are given to the farmers.

A farmer who has only a half hectare of land is given one bag each of complete and urea. If the land is only ¼ hectare and below, only one bag of complete fertilizer is given.

The fertilizers are given to the farmers in the form of certificate of entitlement. The payment of the fertilizers are reimbursed directly to the individual farmers in the form of check.

Aside from the fertilizer subsidy, seed subsidies were also given to those affected by typhoon Pepeng.

Erlinda Burton, OPAG information officer said a total of 2,017 hectares with 2,558 farmers were benefited by the said seeds distribution. This was handled by the National Food Authority with the supervision of the OPAG and the municipal agriculture offices as regards the identification of affected areas and the individual farmers. (PIA-Abra)