Pagudpud: The local government unit (LGU) of Pagudpud, through its Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), has started distributing fertilizers to registered rice farmers for this year's main cropping season. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on farmers due to rising oil prices and other agricultural input costs.
According to Philippines News Agency, Councilor Rajiv Benemerito declared through Resolution No. 2026-117 that 2,860 bags of fertilizer stored at the Bannawag warehouse, initially a loan requiring repayment post-harvest under the rice development program, have been reclassified as a direct grant. This decision is intended to support rice farmers impacted by the increasing oil prices. Benemerito expressed hope that this aid will help rice-farming families manage the current economic challenges and sustain their rice and food production efforts.
The current cost for commercial fertilizer in the region ranges between PHP1,600 and PHP2,700, influenced by global supply chain fluctuations and local distributor markups. To assist farmers in managing the escalating prices of agricultural inputs, the Pagudpud LGU has shifted the distribution method of existing fertilizer stocks to offer immediate support to all registered local rice farmers.
The fertilizer distribution has commenced in Barangays Dampig, Tarrag, Ligaya, and Poblacion 1 and 2, as per the schedule provided by the MAO. More rice farmers from Barangays Saguigui, Subec, Caunayan, Balaoi, Pasaleng, Pancian, Burayoc, Agassi, Baduang, Caparispisan, and Saud are set to receive their share by July 4, according to the distribution schedule at the Bannawag warehouse in Barangay Poblacion 2.
Beneficiary Jing Suguitan expressed gratitude in the vernacular, thanking the government for the assistance and hoping for its continuation in the future. Even prior to the Middle East conflict, substantial aid amounting to millions of pesos had been dispatched to farmers and fisherfolk across Ilocos Norte. This support included various forms of assistance from pre-planting to marketing, aimed at enhancing productivity through technology and mechanization, while also improving irrigation systems to maximize income.
Farmers or fisherfolk who have yet to receive government assistance can reach out via email at [email protected] or visit the Provincial Agriculture Office or the Sustainable Development Center in Barangay 2, Laoag City.
