By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 21 (PIA)- The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) -Seed Program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is set to distribute to farmers in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region, more than 107,000 sacks of quality rice seeds for free.
The province of Zamboanga Sibugay is allotted 37,650 while Zamboanga del Sur is allotted 69,940 sacks of certified inbred rice seeds.
With the help of the LGUs, bags of certified inbred rice seeds were already delivered to rice-producing cities and municipalities all over the country since the program rolled out in October 2019. Provincial governors and city/municipal mayors through agriculture officers led the seed distribution amidst community quarantine.
Farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and are practicing transplanting method can receive 1 bag (20kg each) of seed for every half hectare of cultivated area up to a maximum of 6 bags for those who have rice fields larger than 2.5 hectare. While, farmers practicing the direct-seeding method can receive 2 bags of seeds for every half hectare.
The RCEF-Seed Program is the government's intervention to enhance farmers' competitiveness in a free trade regime. It aims to distribute more than 2.5 million bags of high-quality seeds to more than one million Filipino rice farmers in the country. It is a component of Republic Act 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law, which allots P10 billion fund every year for the rice farmers. The program is a six-year government initiative to help the farmers compete in the international rice market.
For details and final schedule of seed distribution in your area, contact your city or municipal agriculture office. (RVC/EDT/JPA/PIA9-Zamboanga Sibugay)
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