The provincial government is expanding its rice farms by providing farm inputs to about 1,300 farmers in the town of Lupon last week.
This new assistance, which included seeds, fertilizers and pesticides would result in additional 1,300 hectares of farms in the province, considered among the top 10 provinces in rice production in the country based on the report of the Department of Agriculture.
Based on the record of the Provincial Agriculture Office, the province has 22,115 hectares in rice farms with 18,575 hectares planted.
Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang said the province has continued to support the farmers, including those cultivating rice, as the province provided similar inputs to 10,625 farmers last month.
“We can never imagine life without the farmers. We will never get tired considering and calling them one of our heroes,” Dayanghirang said.
He added that the provincial government is also looking at providing a financing window to its programs including those that are to address food security.
“We do not have to wait for our annual IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) for these undertakings if we can find other ways to help our farmers,” he said as he assured the beneficiaries that the provincial government will invest in technology to help them achieve the highest production volume possible.
Initially, he added, the provincial government will provide the town with two mechanized harvesters next year as the budget of P6.5 million will be included in the budget.
