New areas covered by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program in Caraga and Northern Mindanao expressed gratitude for inclusion in the certified inbred rice seed distribution.
Starting this 2023 wet season, farmers in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, and Camiguin will benefit from seed allocation of 10,800, 2,100, and 260 sacks, respectively.
Karen Olpos, the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Dinagat Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), emphasized the program’s significance in achieving local food sufficiency.
“We hope that it will help address our local rice supply problem. As an island province, we incur additional expenses for transportation just to obtain rice from other provinces,” she said.
Cresencio Loquellano, OIC of Camiguin PAO, pledged to closely monitor rice production in their municipalities and the preparations for the training programs that will enhance farmers’ knowledge and skills on producing the country’s staple food.
The inclusion of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, and Camiguin in the RCEF Seed Program aligns with the current administration’s food security agenda.
The program expansion is jointly funded by RCEF and the Department of Agriculture’s National Rice Program (NRP) with P3 billion and P700 million, respectively, dedicated to the initiative.
