NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — The provincial agriculture office of Biliran has launched a Fertilizer for Rice Exchange Program that allows farmers to trade fertilizer for well-milled rice at a discounted price of P20 per kilo, supporting local farmers and ensuring food security.
Governor Gerard Roger M. Espina and Julia T. Sandiford of the Provincial Agricultural Services Office (OPAS) spearheaded the initiative to provide affordable rice to the community and strengthen the agricultural sector.
Governor Gerard Roger M. Espina, wearing a cap, handed over a kilogram of rice at a cost of P20 to some residents in Barangay Larrazabal in Naval town during the Todo Serbisyo sa Kapitolyo event. (Photo courtesy of Biliran Province Facebook page)
Jay C. Fuentes, the provincial rice program coordinator, explains that the program operates on a barter system. Rice farmers will receive a sack of fertilizer in exchange for 25 kilos of rice, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Fuentes added that the rice farmers who own a large area of land planted with rice in the province will receive a maximum of four sacks of fertilizer. This ensures that other rice farmers in the province can also benefit from the program.
Julia T. Sandiford (standing left), the provincial agriculturist, supervised the sale of rice at P20 per kilo during the Todo Serbisyo sa Kapitolyo event held at Barangay Larrazabal, Naval, Biliran. (Photo courtesy of Biliran Province Facebook Page)
Brian Sinangote, a former municipal agricultural officer, emphasized the importance of sustainability in the program. The revenue generated from the sale of rice is reinvested in the purchase of fertilizers, which creates a self-reliant cycle of support for farmers.
The program was successfully launched during the Todo Serbisyo sa Kapitolyo event, where 150 kilos of rice were sold, demonstrating its immediate impact. The availability of affordable rice is wider than the event, as there are plans to sell rice regularly at the Kadiwa market every Tuesday and Thursday. (AAC/RSV/PIA Biliran)
