Corn farmers get fertilizer voucher

CEBU, Philippines —  Some 134 corn farmers from Bantayan and Madridejos received fertilizer support from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 during its kick-off distribution of fertilizer vouchers.

Each qualified and masterlisted beneficiary will get a fertilizer voucher worth P2,000 which can be claimed from an accredited merchant.  It is funded under the DA’s Corn Program through the Fertilizer Discount Voucher scheme.

With the presence of accredited merchants during the voucher distribution, several farmers right away claimed their fertilizers.

For corn farmers to qualify they must be users of National Seed Industry Council-registered corn and cassava varieties, members of corn or cassava clusters,  duly registered in the  Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) and encoded in the  National Farmers’ and  Fishers’ Registry System (NFFRS).

Meanwhile, DA-7 recently conducted a caravan of Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) in Carcar City and Liloan in celebration of its 3rd year of implementation.

EPAHP is a convergence program of national government agencies and local government units.

The program aims to address hunger, food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. It consists of three pillars-- demand, support, and supply.

DA-7, led by Regional Technical Director Dr. Wilberto Castillo, distributed some IEC materials, seedlings and garden tools during the caravan. Topic on Sagip Saka Act was also discussed in one of the lectures.

The DA is under the supply pillar focusing for the farmers, fishers, sustainable livelihood program associations and cooperatives. — FPL (FREEMAN)