UN-FAO distributes certified seeds to Phl farmers

MANILA, Philippines - Farmers in several areas in typhoon-damaged Samar would be harvesting palay (unhusked rice) within the first half of the year after planting certified seeds provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), farmers of Barangay Can-abay in the municipality of Basey in the province of Samar would begin harvesting palay by April or May.

“The FAO seeds came in at the right time. Had it come later, the farmers will yield minimal production or none at all,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, which hit western, eastern and central Visayas in November 2013, the FAO allocated $1.2 million for the procurement of certified seeds. The funds came from donor countries United Kingdom, Norway, Italy and Switzerland.

Alcala said that by December 2013, farmers in Samar resumed planting rice again.

Dante Delima, Agriculture undersecretary and National Rice Program coordinator, said the FAO contributed 52 percent of the total seed requirement distributed to Samar and Leyte.  Around 28 percent came from international donor groups while 18 percent came from the DA.

“We are allowed to only share much because our funds and buffer seeds were already exhausted by Typhoon Pablo victims,” said Delima, referring to another strong typhoon that pummeled Mindanao in December 2012.