Agri-10 boosts prod’n support to MisOr corn farmers

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-NorMin) has turned over PhP141.75-million (M) worth of farm inputs to corn farmers in Misamis Oriental to boost their productivity and income.

The turnover was held on May 19 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds during the province’s flag-raising ceremony, led by Governor Juliette T. Uy, with DA-NorMin Farmer-Director Nilda B. Salas and OIC-Field Operations Division Chief and Corn Focal Person, Richan D. Lacanaria in attendance.

The assistance aims to support farmers producing both yellow and white corn for food, feed, and industrial use, as part of the government’s effort to strengthen food security and rural development in the province.

It comes in paired packages of seeds and biofertilizers for each corn variety. These include 12,500 bags of yellow corn seeds amounting to PhP75-M matched with 37,500 packets of biofertilizer valued at PhP3.75-M, as well as 10,000 bags of white corn seeds costing PhP60-M with 30,000 bags of biofertilizer priced at PhP3-M.

Governor Juliette T. Uy lauded the initiative of the agri department along with other government instrumentalities present, in collectively bringing various support to advance agri development in MisOr.

“Kini ang maayong example sa pang gobyerno nga magtinabangay…magtuo ko nga dako nga kalambuan ug kausaban sa Misamis Oriental,” she said.

The governor also reminded farmers through their local officials across the 23 towns and two independent component cities of the province to maximize the assistance provided by the government.

“Hangyo nga kining mga [semilya ug] fertilizers, inyo gyud ning itanum ug dili ibaligya,” she furthered.

For her part, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Agriculture’s Office (PAGRO), Michelle Ross M. Lace, conveyed that their office continues to align their service delivery with DA’s programs and directives, especially in areas of food security, agricultural modernization, and rural development.

“Beyond the accomplishments we presented today, kini nga mga initiatives nagpakita sa gahum sa paghiniusa, kooperasyon, shared commitment through strong partnerships and collaborative efforts,” Lace said.

Meanwhile, Ariel D. Lanuevo, Balingoan municipal agriculturist shared that the intervention will greatly benefit the corn farming communities of their town, especially in upper barangays such as Dahilig, Mapua, Kabangasan, and Kabulakan, including lowland interested lowland barangay farmers.

“Makapadugang kini sa atong produksyon sa mais sa atong lungsod, as part of the food security program sa atong gobyerno…makadugang og tabang sa income sa atong farmers ug isip pagkaon nila, ug ilabina sa fertilizers nga usahay makalimit sa atong farmers nga magtanum pero gi apilan man og fertilizers, so dako kay ni’g ikatabang sa atong farmers,” Lanuevo imparted.

The undertaking forms part of the broader vision of the DA’s Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas by expanding and improving available agricultural production areas through access to quality farm inputs.# (JLO)