KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province (PIA) -- The provincial government of Cotabato has distributed over P3 million in rice and corn seeds, fertilizers and farm implements to nearly 700 farmers in the towns of Pigcawayan and Arakan.

"Sa mga mahal naming magsasaka, pangalagaan at palaguin natin ang mga farm inputs na ibinabahagi ng ating gobyerno [To our dear farmers, let's protect and grow the farm inputs provided by our government]," said acting Provincial Agriculturist Mary Catherine Delima.

For January, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) has already distributed farm inputs to 1,160 farmers in the province.

Aside from the recipients from the two towns, qualified farmers from the municipalities of President Roxas and Aleosan also benefited from the assistance.

The initiative is part of the provincial government’s efforts to not only strengthen local production but also support the national government’s agenda to boost food security.

According to Delima, the provincial government, through OPAg, is now in "full force" in their preparation in anticipation of the onslaught of El Niño, which is expected to cause severe damage to crops.

PAGASA has projected that El Nino’s strength will reach its peak in April.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmylou Mendoza assured farmers that the provincial government is doing its best to mitigate the impact of El Nino, considering the province was one of those hardest hit by the phenomenon in 2015–2016.

She also said that the provincial government only has farmers’ best interests, especially in trying to help them lessen their farm expenses while at the same time increasing their income by boosting farm production.

The provincial government has partnered with the Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies to ensure that this initiative continues until all farmers are given the opportunity to improve their farming activities and uplift their quality of life.

“It is our priority to strengthen the agriculture sector in the province by ensuring that our farmers are provided with all the necessary assistance,” the governor emphasized, urging all other national government agencies with related programs to help.

Aside from rice and corn farmers, the provincial government has also intensified its efforts to help other farmers in Cotabato.

Recently, 100 vegetable farmers in the municipality of Makilala completed their season-long training on organic vegetable production.

The Department of Labor and Employment extended cash assistance worth P498,000 to the Makilala Vegetable Growers Association to help them bolster their vegetable farming activities.

In a message, OPAg told the Philippine Information Agency that on  Feb. 7, they will be handing out corn seeds to 120 farmers in the municipality of Libungan.

It added that it will distribute 25,300 pieces of tissue-cultured Lakatan banana planting materials to farmers in the said municipality and the nearby Pigcawayan town.

For those who are interested in availing of the provincial government’s agricultural programs, OPAg said that they may submit a letter of intent stating their specific needs, or they may visit the Municipal Agriculture Office in their respective areas for more details and guidance. (SJDM – PIA Cotabato Province)