A total of 177 rice farmers from the municipality of Hinigaran in Negros Occidental received quick turnaround or early planting incentives, worth P296,720, during the distribution ceremony led by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday.
This program of the provincial government, spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, was intended to minimize the impact of food shortage at the height of the Covid pandemic last year.
To ensure food security and agricultural productivity in the province, the farmers were encouraged to plant rice during the months of April and May last year to make sure that enough crops will be harvested in August, a press release from Capitol said.
The beneficiaries were farmers who responded to the call of the province to engage in early planting to supply the expected demand for rice.
Lacson said that farmers have a huge contribution to the economy, and food is the most important and basic need of the people, especially with the present pandemic.
The distribution of incentives was held at the Hinigaran covered court, and attended by Fifth District Board Member Rita Gatuslao, Hinigaran Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo and Vice Mayor Teresita Gabrido, SB members, OPA personnel led by supervising agriculturist, Dina Genzola, and the Hinigaran Agriculture Office, headed by Ral Trompeta.*
