27.8 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

2:25 AM

27.8 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

2:25 AM

DA NorMin launches CFSMFF program for marginal farmers, fisherfolks

DAMULOG, Bukidnon (PIA)—Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 recently launched in Damulog, Bukidnon the Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fishers (CFSMFF) program.

Dr. Janet D. Lopez, DA-RFO 10’s provincial operations chief for Bukidnon explained that the program aims to help farmers recover from the fierce impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

In Region 10, she said, around 29,426 corn farmers will benefit from the government’s cash and food subsidy which totalled P5,000 each.

The said amount is divided into two sets—P3,000 cash and P2,000 food items.

Each food kit is comprised of 25 kilos rice worth P1,000; 4.5 kilos chicken priced at P600; and two trays of eggs worth P400.

In Damulog town alone, some 1,813 qualified corn farmer beneficiaries will receive a total of P9 million cash and food subsidy under the CFSMFF program.

Erlina B. Bosquit, one of the farmer beneficiaries, said in dialect “the assistance will surely help us in our dire need of money to buy food and other basic needs, especially this COVID times.”

With allocation from the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or “Bayanihan II,” the agency seeks to provide direct food and financial assistance highlighting the theme “Biyayang pang-agrikultura, Hatid sa gitna ng pandemya.”

According to the DA’s guidelines, farmers who will qualify to receive the CFSMFF are those: (1) Affected farmers having below one hectare landholding; (2) Registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS); (3) Farmers from cities under 5th to 6th income classification or municipalities under the 4th to 6th income classification; and (4) Farmers who are not covered by other social amelioration programs from other government agencies.

Damulog being a 4th class municipality, corn farmers from its 17 barangays will benefit from the program.

Implementing agencies include DA under its Corn Program, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). (DA 10/PIA Bukidnon)