IMUS CITY, Cavite – A total of 149 farmers received bags of rice seeds under the city’s Project Punla, which aims to uplift agricultural sustainability and sufficiency.
In a Facebook live last May 8, City Agriculturist Robert Marges said that around 600 bags of rice seeds were distributed by the local government in accordance with the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program.
“Ang bawat magsasaka po ay nakatanggap ng dalawang sakong binhi ng palay sa bawat ektarya na kanilang sinasaka,” Marges said.
Aside from rice seeds, Imuseño farmers will also receive free soil fertilizers within the month or in June.
“Kahit tayo ay highly-urbanized [city] na, ay nandoon ‘yung malasakit na nabibigay natin at ganoon din ‘yung mga magsasaka sa atin. Kaya nga, aside from vegetable seeds and palay seeds, ang Farmers Association natin ay nabiyayaan na rin natin ng farm machineries na kung saan ito ay magpapagaan sa kanilang pagsasaka,” he said.
On the other hand, Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi mentioned that the city’s agricultural products have been purchased by the local government and they will be included in the assistance program.
“Basically ang ginawa natin, imbis na bumili pa tayo ng mga palay at gulay outside Imus, ang prinioritize natin ‘yung ating mga rice farmers and vegetable growers,” he said.
“So sa pamamagitan nito, natutulungan natin sila financially kasi imbis na ibenta pa nila sa mga traders tayo na mismo ang bumibili sa kanila,” Maliksi added.
