Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. led the distribution of 970 bags of hybrid rice seeds to farmer-beneficiaries in Pototan, Iloilo this afternoon.
The activity is under the Province-Led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) which aims to cater to more than 6,000 hectares of rice areas in the province no longer included in the target sites of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas’ hybridization program this year.
Under the program, each qualified farmer could receive one bag (at 15 kilograms per bag) of hybrid seeds for every hectare of rice land. However, a farmer could only avail of a maximum of two bags.
Governor Defensor assured farmers that the Iloilo PLGU’s priority programs under PAFES will further advance the rice self-sufficiency of Iloilo.
The PAFES hybrid rice seeds program was launched in San Miguel, Iloilo on June 2, 2023, where more than 300 farmers availed of hybrid rice seeds.
Aside from San Miguel and Pototan the other recipient municipalities identified by the Provincial Agriculture Office are Barotac Viejo with 470 bags, Dumangas with 891 bags, and Tigbauan with 360 bags.
A budget of PhP 30 million was allotted for the PAFES hybrid rice seeds program.
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