Rice certified seeds available for Western Visayas farmers
The Department of Agriculture 6 said 6,700 bags of rice certified seeds available for farmers under the rapid seed supply financing project (RaSSFiP) extension phase for dry copping season of 2011.
Edgar Baylon, DA regional rice seed coordinator, said currently, 6,000 bags are available for Negros Occidental, 500 bags for Capiz, and 200 bags for Antique.
Under the RaSSFiP project, the National Food Authority will procure only CS from the Bureau of Plant Industry accredited seed growers not more than three months from the date of certification by the National Seeds Quality Control Service.
It was also agreed that farmers’ equity under the 50-50 scheme will be deposited or paid through banks in order to eliminate or minimize the risks of agricultural technicians.
Baylon said masterlist of farmers per municipality and the consolidated monthly planting targets and farmers’ preferred variety per municipality should be submitted.
The NFA 6 will import CS from Regions 1, 2 and 3 due to lack of locally-available seeds.
Designated drop-off points for the RaSSFiP are NFA warehouses in the following areas: Banga in Aklan; Padang, Patnongon, Culasi, and San Jose in Antique; Jordan in Guimaras; Jaro, San Dionisio, Pototan and Dumangas in Iloilo; Bacolod City, Hinobaan, Sipalay, Dancalan and Bago City in Negros Occidental.*