Zambo City allots P40-M for farmers affected by drought

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Office of the City Agriculture here has assured assistance for local farmers affected by the dry spell brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.

City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez said Wednesday the assistance from the city government will be distributed as soon as purchases for the proposed supplies and equipment are done.

Sanchez said the city has allocated PHP40 million out of the City Mayor’s Agricultural and Fishery Modernization Program Fund to assist farmers hard hit by the dry spell.

“We appeal to the farmers to please bear with us but as soon as the items are delivered the same will be distributed to them,” she said.

She said included in the purchases following the April 29 successful bidding are alternative crops, PHP3 million; zoological and animal supplies, PHP1.5 million; organic fertilizers, PHP14 million; knapsack sprayers, PHP5.4 million; urban gardening project, PHP2.7 million; seaweed seedlings, milkfish fry, fishing gears, PHP7.2 million; and, cooking equipment, P3.17 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Office of the City Agriculture, will distribute rice, at six kilos per beneficiary, to farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon starting June.

Sanchez said that 7,500 farmers are included in the master list of her office as beneficiaries of the assistance from DSWD.

She said that coupons are now being distributed to the affected farmers for claiming the DSWD assistance in the different agricultural field offices.

The agricultural field offices are located in Barangays Ayala, Tumaga, Culianan, Manicahan, Curuan and Vitali. (PNA)