LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) — The provincial government of Ilocos Norte continues to grant agricultural requests from farmers and fishers in the province thru Agri Ka Dito program.

The said program aims to sustain and boost the livelihood of local farmers and fisherfolk by providing them immediate assistance. 

Target beneficiaries of this program can reach out to the provincial government thru a hotline where they can directly request for agricultural inputs.

In a turnover ceremony held on June 27, agricultural inputs and equipment worth P19,974,055 were distributed to the beneficiaries from various towns and cities in the province.

Some of the inputs that were distributed ate fertilizers, soil conditioners, jetmatic pumps, knapsack sprayers, plastic drums, irrigation hose, pesticides, assorted vegetable seeds, a combine harvester, four 4-wheel tractors, five multi-cultivators, five hand tractors, and  192 sets of fish nets. 

A total of 582 farmers and vegetable growers, 384 fisherfolk, and 15 organizations from the cities of Laoag and Batac, and towns of Sarrat, Bacarra, Bangui, Burgos, Pagudpud, Dingras, and Vintar benefited from this batch of agri inputs and equipment that were distributed. 

“To all our farmers, we assure you of full-service assistance, from pre-planting to marketing, to produce more through technology and mechanization, and improve our irrigation,” said Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc.

Manotoc has also urged the farmers to shift to high-value crops such as garlic, mango, dragon fruit, shallots, onions, and tobacco which are now more marketable. 

For agricultural requests, farmers and fisherfolk may contact the provincial government through 0916-441-9914 or 0969-290-5489, email agrikadito.in@gmail.com. They may also visit the Provincial Agriculture Office in Barangay 2, Laoag City. (JCR/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)