SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – A total of 129 tobacco farmers from Bacnotan town received more than P1 million in fuel vouchers and black hose from the town’s local government at an awarding held on Feb. 5.

The distribution of the agricultural input is seen to boost tobacco production of farmers in the town, leading to better opportunities to earn more for the beneficiaries.

Each farmer-beneficiary received a fuel voucher worth a minimum of P2,000 to a maximum of P7,000, depending on the size of their farm land, a black hose with a length of 60 meters and a height of 200 feet, and a plant growth regulator to boost their farming produce.

The said activity was initiated by the local government of Bacnotan’s Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), collaborating with the beneficiaries in order to identify their most pressing needs for their agriculture endeavor to succeed.

Bacnotan Mayor Divine Fontanilla said that helping farmers is crucial for the continued economic development of the town and that collaborating with farmers to identify their needs is crucial to make the goal possible.  

“Mas alam ninyo kung ano ang pangangailangan ng bawat magsasaka, kami lamang po ang daan para maisakatuparan ito, kung uunlad ang mga magsasaka, uunlad ang ekonomiya natin at hikayatin natin ang mga kabataan na maging agri-prenuer, na tulungan  tayo kung paano maimprove ang ating mga agricultural technology (You know better what the needs of each farmer are, we are just the instrument to make it happen. If the farmers develop, our economy will also develop. Let us also encourage the youth to become agri-prenuers, to help us improve our agricultural technologies),” Fontanilla said.

Rodolfo Pajarit, president of the Bacnotan Tobacco Growers Association, said the assistance provided by the local government helps them in their farming needs and enables them to funnel some of their funds for the needs of their families.

“Malaking tulong po ito para sa mga katulad kong tobacco farmer, kahit papaano makatitipid kami at mailalaan pa namin para sa iba pang importanteng pangangailangan ng pamilya namin (This is a big help for tobacco farmers like me, at least we can save money and allocate for other important needs of our family),” Pajarit said.

La Union’s primary industry remains agriculture through food produce such as rice, corn, fish, fruits, and vegetables while each city/town also boost their own unique agriculture industries, with Bacnotan town’s agricultural landscape focusing on tobacco production. (JCR/MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)