P118-M farm aid readied for Bukidnon corn growers

MALAYBALAY CITY--The provincial government of Bukidnon has allocated funds for the seed and fertilizer subsidies for the province’s corn farmers, especially the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

Provincial agriculturist, Alson Quimba, said the distribution of hybrid corn seeds and fertilizer worth PHP118 million is the second to be held this year.

Quimba, who bared the plan to the Provincial Board during its regular session on Tuesday, said a total of 21,818 corn farmers will receive the farm subsidies in July.

Last March, the provincial agriculture office distributed PHP156 million worth of hybrid corn seeds and fertilizer to some 28,900  farmers.

Quimba said the beneficiaries were identified through the profiles of corn farmers at the agriculture offices of the province’s 20 towns and two cities.

He said each farmer will be given a 9-kg. sack of hybrid corn seeds and two sacks of fertilizer.

“Farmers who are tilling below one hectare of land and do not have other sources of income are the beneficiaries of the program,” Quimba said.

The suppliers are the Asian Hybrid Seeds and Technologies in Aglayan, Malaybalay City, which will deliver PHP76 million worth of hybrid corn seeds, and the Universal Harvester, Inc., which will provide PHP41.67 worth of fertilizer. Both suppliers won last week's bidding.

Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. said the program targets the small farmers, particularly in the IP communities, to support their daily subsistence.

Zubiri said the budget was taken from the province's PHP900 million surplus funds.

Bukidnon has in the past yeas been ranked fourth among the country's provinces with the highest poverty incidence. However, Vice Governor Alex Calingasan said it has recently slipped to the sixth rank.

Bukidnon, a landlocked province, consists of 464 barangays whose economy thrives mainly on agriculture. (PNA)