MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 recently launched the National Rice Program (NRP)-Fertilizer Discount Voucher System to Rice Farmers in Kibawe, Bukidnon, with the goal of assisting food production frontliners, particularly rice farmers.

Also known as the NRP-Fertilizer Discount Voucher Support, a total of 20 farmers received P32,912.10 in support for the town of Kibawe, including 10 farmers from Damulog town who received P21,262.80. The fertilizer discount voucher is worth P1,131.00 per hectare for inbred rice, and P2,262.00 per hectare for hybrid rice.

With this, the Agri chief executive urged individual farmers to form clusters, especially those eyeing big-ticket projects from the agency.

Meanwhile, Manuela Adtoon, a hybrid rice farmer from Damulog town, expressed her gratefulness for the provision of fertilizer discount vouchers, saying, "The voucher can really help us save from buying fertilizers, particularly now that its prices in the market are increasing."

Beneficiaries of this support should preferably be rice farmers who have received high-quality seeds for the adoption of high-yielding technologies, as well as rice-producing areas with a low fertilizer adoption rate. 

The regional target is P121 million, which will cover a total of 62,032 hectares of inbred and hybrid rice.

Recognizing the fertilizer support, Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon expressed her optimism that, under President-Secretary Marcos' leadership in the field of agriculture, the push to reduce rice prices as part of food security will be attained.

Carlota S. Madriaga, Regional Technical Director for Operations, Consultant Joel S. Rudinas, and Bukidnon Provincial Operations Chief Janet D. Lopez of DA-10 also graced the farmers' event. (DA-10/PIA 10-Bukidnon)