The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) kicks off second wave of the Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) distribution in Misamis Occidental Wednesday, May 13, 2020, as 1,187 rice farmers in the towns of Aloran and Jimenez each gets P5,000 cash aid.

The FSRF is a special subsidy granted by DA to small rice farmers tilling one hectare rice field or lesser in the provinces not covered by the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program of DA.

Misamis Occidental registered a total of 6,544 FSRF-eligible rice farmers who will be duly subsidized P32.7 million worth of financial assistance.

This initiative is set to augment the small farmers’ capacity as they are gearing up for May-June planting season, amid pandemic drawbacks.

“Our rice farmers in Jimenez are extremely delighted with the FSRF. Like many, they are affected by the COVID-19 crisis. To them, this help from DA is so timely especially most of them have now started planting,” said Vima M. Bolanio, Jimenez Municipal Agricultural Officer.

“Surely our farmers’ yield will increase since they now have added means to suffice their farming needs, aside from seeds and fertilizers assistance from DA-10,” Bolanio added.

DA’s farmer-beneficiaries will receive the subsidy in cash through Landbank’s payout system.

Rosafe B. Quiñon, Landbank Account Officer of Ozamiz Satellite Office, said serving the farmers is an all-time mandate of Landbank. Personally, she is glad to be part of the cause helping the farmers in this trying times.

“It is fulfilling to serve our farmers. They are our (COVID-19) frontliners in food production. Without them the entire country will go hungry,” Quiñon said recognizing farmers contribution in the battle against the pandemic.

DA-10 is now fast-tracking the FSRF distribution in Misamis Occidental.

Other 5,357 qualified rice farmers from the towns of Baliangao, Calamba, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Oroquieta City, Panaon, Clarin, Ozamiz City, Sinacaban, Tudela, Bonifacio and Tangub City, are due to receive the FSRF cash aid this week.# (ATalib)