PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – A measure that seeks to grant fertilizer loans to farmers in Palawan has been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to boost the province’s rice productivity.
Resolution No. 13296 was approved to establish the Productivity Rice Reform Development (PRRD) project under the Livelihood Component of I-HELP (Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood and Protection of the Environment).
Ariston Arzaga, the project's manager, said Thursday the measure would pave the way for the provincial government to open loan grants to farmers for the purchase of fertilizers, soil conditioners, expenses for transplanting, and others.
“Under this program, the rice seeds that will be used are hybrid and the mode would be transplanting (lipat-tanim) instead of direct seeding (sabog-tanim) to increase or double productivity,” he said.
Rice farmers who will participate, Arzaga said, shall be insured to protect them from flooding, crop burning, and others.
He said the passing of the measure also gave Governor Jose Alvarez the authority to enter into contracts of agreement with the beneficiaries and other stakeholder agencies as implementation partners.(PNA)
