TABUK CITY, Kalinga – At least 5,000 rice farmers here received their fertilizer discount vouchers from the national government during the distribution on Thursday, August 10.
Michelle Lumas-i of the Office for the City Agricultural Services (OfCAS) explained that this program is for rice farmers registered under the Farmers Intervention Monitoring System (FIMS), and with two hectares or less of farmland.
With PhP18 million allocated for Tabuk rice farmers, the amount of assistance indicated in the voucher depends on the size of the farm land, and usually ranges from PhP400 to PhP8,000, she said.
To secure a voucher, a farmer-beneficiary presents a valid identification card for verification. The voucher is used to buy kilos or sacks of urea fertilizer from the identified merchants or farm supplies that were invited during the distribution at the People’s Gymnasium.
According to Lumas-i, the 13 merchants during the event complied with all the documentary requirements set by the Department of Agriculture (DA), like a business permit, a permit from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and a bank account. The price of fertilizers being sold must not exceed the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) as mandated by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA).
Aside from the discount vouchers, beneficiaries also get an intervention monitoring card from the National Registry System for Farmers and Fisherfolk (NRSFF). This card will be used to claim government assistance programs, if there are any.
One of the beneficiaries is Magnao resident Imelda Conde, who used the PhP800 of her voucher to purchase 23 kilos of fertilizer. She is happy with this government assistance considering the high price of fertilizers.
The employees of the OFCAS who led the distribution were assisted by DA-CAR representatives.
