President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday oversaw the distribution of P2.9 million worth of fertilizer inputs to farmers in La Union to boost farm productivity and crop yields.
Farmers from the City of San Fernando, Bacnotan, and San Juan benefitted from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Rice Banner Program, which provides inorganic fertilizers as subsidies to enhance the production of priority crops such as rice.
During the initial turnover held in San Fernando City, P2,977,600 worth of inorganic fertilizers were handed over to local farmers.
The DA has earmarked P20,051,200 worth of fertilizers for La Union, covering 14,215 hectares. For the entire Ilocos Region, a total allocation of P272,984,000 has been set aside, covering 193,526 hectares of farmland.
The Rice Banner Program seeks to improve farm productivity, reduce production costs, promote balanced fertilization strategies, and strengthen food security. It also highlights the role of proper fertilizer application in maximizing crop yield potential.
The distribution of inorganic fertilizers complements the provision of hybrid palay seeds under the same program, which in recent years has been supporting farmers to raise productivity and increase their incomes.
