Norway's FM pledges US$8M more aid

BASEY, SAMAR , Philippines   â€” Norway's Foreign Minister  Børge Brende visited this town the other day and distributed rice seeds to farmers here, while announcing his goverment will be extending more assistance, amounting to US$8 million for the recovery of their livelihood that was destroyed by typhoon Yolanda.

Brende, in a press conference, said the additional aid will bring the total donation of his government to US$43 million, given to Yolanda victims, making his country the third largest donor after the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Seed is a symbol of recovery, and I know how much it means to replant with this seed before it's too late." he said in reference to the rice seeds Norway gave to the farmers in this town.

Brende told reporters that the project funded in this town by his government was in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) and the Philippines' Department of Agriculture regional office in Eastern Visayas.

"It is important for us in Norway to show our solidarity with the typhoon-affected people of the Philippines. We were present just after the disaster struck and will follow the early recovery closely to ensure affected communities can build back better," he said.

In his visit to this town, Brende also went to the rice fields where the rice seeds earlier distributed to the farmers have been planted. He also talked to the farmers, particularly in Barangay Can-abay of this town.

Rajendra Aryal, acting FAO country representative in the Philippines, said the Norwegian-funded project enables the farmers of this town  to plant these December and January planting seasons. 

"We have supported almost 11,000 farmers so far with Norwegian funds, delivering a 40-kg bag to each household, which enabled them to plant in their rice fields that were devastated by the typhoon," Aryal said.

DA-8 Regional Director Antonio Gerundio said there were 2,012 farmers who were recepients of the 1,914 bags of rice seeds, each of whom got either one-half bag or one bag of the item, depending on the size of the area to be planted. Each bag of rice seeds is good for a hectare area, he said.

Gerundio said the seeds planted last December and this month will be ready for harvesting by March or April. "This support (from Norway) was timely, enabling farmers to go back to their fields and produce their own food," he added.  (FREEMAN)