Gov. Arthur Yap received from Agriculture Sec. Dr. William Dar a certificate for financial support for more than 52,000 Bol-anon rice farmers which will be released in the next two months, according to a report from the Provincial Information and Media Relations (PRIMER) office released on Nov. 19,
2021.
The assistance enables farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program, the flexibility to procure needed inputs in their farming activities as they enter the main planting season, the report adds.
The meeting happened on Nov. 17, 2021, according to the report.
The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has set aside at least P500 million as its counter part to fund programs aligned with the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 18 key strategies for next year.
Moreover, the said fund will also finance the implementation of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) here. The DA has chosen Bohol as one of the pilot provinces that will rollout the PAFES, according to Sec. Dar.
Aside from Dar, the governor also met other high level officials of the DA which include Usec Ariel Cayanan, Asec Arnel De Mesa, and Dr. Leo Sebastian, as he also engaged with Planter’s Products President Matt Maderazo.
Yap and the DA discussed commercially farming root crops, corn, cacao, coffee, high value fruits and rice. Yap who is focused on increasing the value of Bohol’s agriculture, has also proposed the creation of a Food Development Center for Bohol which will house the processing and packing of certain key commodities to help farmers increase their income.
Meanwhile, Dar will be visiting Bohol next month to monitor the implementation of the PAFES program here, the report concludes.