TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) -- About 1,802 farmers from Solana, Cagayan and Aurora, Isabela received their share of P5,000 each cash assistance under the P12-billion Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) as pledged by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently.
The recipients belong to the first batch of bebenficiries from the 200,000 farmers identified to receive the assistance, Dr. Marvin Luis, regional rice program focal person, said.
Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino said the amount is to somehow provide support to small rice farmers in sustaining their productivity amid agricultural challenges in the country.
While other areas in the country has availed their cash assistance, others expect their share for this month.
Aling Fely, a 65-year old farmer beneficiary, was delighted with joy because ,for a widow like her, she cannot meet all the inputs in her farm as she has no other source of income but farming.
“Tatta ket adda pay libre nga bin-i ken abonokun adda pay pagtandanku agkuligligen”, (now I have free seeds and fertilizers plus money which I can use for plowing) she said full of gratitude.
While farmers encountered high farm inputs for the past years, the government has provided interventions and support to small farmers through the RFFA. (GVB/PIA Region 2)