Gov’t to subsidize fertilizer expenses

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that the Department of Agriculture will be giving discount coupons worth P500 to farmers in the province to subsidize their fertilizer expenses.

Garcia, who was in Argao recently for consultative meetings with local leaders, barangay officials and residents, said the national government is asking the provincial governments to give a P1,000 counterpart for every P500 that it releases so each farmer can have a discount of P1,500.

For Cebu province, Garcia said the coupons will only be valid for organic fertilizers and could not be used in buying commercial ones.

“Ang P500 subsidy limited lang para sa organic fertilizers ug dili para sa commercial,” she said.

Garcia is promoting the use of organic fertilizers to pull down production costs and promote sustainable agriculture. She already ordered the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office to implement a specific program on the matter.

The department has a list of farmers per municipality.  Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. also encouraged barangay captains to use pro-biotic fertilizers made through vermiculture, a process involving worms.

“I am willing to share knowledge on Vermiculture thru seminars,” Vice Gov. Sanchez said, adding that pro-biotic fertilizers cost only P500 per hectare while commercial ones cost about P16,000 per hectare.

Garcia also encouraged the people to plant sweet potatoes to combat the rice crisis. She urged everyone to participate in the Sinanduloy Alang sa Kabusog, Sinanduloy Alang sa Kahimsog (SAKSAK) program, a project of the provincial government that advocates the mixing of sweet potatoes in boiling rice.

“Kinahanglan dili ta magpakontrolar sa sitwasyon. Kita ang mokontrolar niini,” Garcia said as the 60-day kamote cuttings are being distributed by the Capitol to LGUs.

“These are higher class sweet potatoes— bigger and do not take on the usual 75-day period before harvest. Planting sweet potatoes on a one-hectare land can give the farmer more or less P140,000 if pegged at P14 per kilo. A hectare of land can produce some 10 to 14 tons of sweet potatoes,” the governor said. — Garry B. Lao/LPM