GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the implementation of a new support program that would provide free seeds and other inputs to palay or rice farmers for two cropping seasons starting next year.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said they are currently working on the details and arrangements for the initiative, which he described as a top priority of the DA and the national government’s rice self-sufficiency program.
He said President Duterte gave the go-signal for the program’s implementation during their Cabinet meeting last week.
“I was able to convince the President that over the next three years, the DA will support farmers for two planting seasons by providing them with free seeds and fertilizers,” said Pinol, who held a consultation with farmers and fishermen here on Tuesday.
He also attended the 50th foundation anniversary celebration of South Cotabato and 17th T’nalak Festival in nearby Koronadal City.
Under the scheme, Piñol said farmers who would avail themselves of the free seeds and fertilizers are required to deposit in a bank the equivalent amount of the inputs after the first harvest.
“This is to ensure they will have money to buy seeds and other inputs they would need for the next planting,” he said.
Piñol said the program is similar to the old practice of rice farmers, where they store a portion of their harvests to serve as buffer supplies for the next planting season.