Zambo farmers receive financial assistance

SOME 154 local farmers received P5,000 financial assistance at the recent launching of the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA).

Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Mayor Beng Climaco launched the program which intended to improve the farmers’ competitiveness and income amid the liberalization of the rice trade policy that lifted quantitative restrictions on rice imports and replaced it with tariffs, among others.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Mayor Beng Climaco launch recently the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance which benefited some 154 farmers in Zamboanga City. (Bong Serondo)

Climaco thanked Dar for continuously supporting and assisting the local farming sector who are greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent flooding brought about by heavy rains. 

The launching of the program was also joined by City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez and other government officials. The farmers thanked DA and Climaco for the assistance. 

Rice farming in Zamboanga has not been sustainable due to the high prices of fertilizers and farming necessities. Many farmers have sold their rice fields to private companies or corporations and use the money to start a new business. (Zamboanga Post)