LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, (PNA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has defended its decision to phase out its program giving 50 percent subsidy to hybrid and certified rice seeds bought by farmers in order to help more farmers planting rice.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said under the abolished program, 50 percent of the cost of hybrid and certified seeds is paid by the government while the other half is shouldered by farmers as their equity.
He said they found out instances wherein sacks containing seeds were marked certified even though the seeds were not certified.
“It’s fake, it’s not right,” said Alcala.
Agriculture Undersecretary Dante Delima added that although one-half of the entire budget for subsidy was given to the program, only 3 percent of the farmers has benefited.
“That’s not fair…We cannot police everything so we chose to remove the seed and fertilizer subsidy programs,” said Delima.
In lieu of the said programs, Delima said that they have established the community seed banking which provides all farmers access to regular seeds.
Delima also said that the supposed fund for seed and fertilizer subsidy was instead used to improve the irrigation systems instead.
Moreover, he disclosed that by next year, DA will choose strategic production zone in the Philippines for hybridization.
“We have to consolidate and choose one area to maximize the potential and increase yield and income as some hybrid seeds can grow well only to certain areas,” concluded Delima.