The provincial government of Misamis Occidental issued fertilizer vouchers to 2,180 rice farmers in Plaridel town on Tuesday.

Governor Henry Oaminal Sr. said the distribution aims to help farmers prepare for the wet season and reduce production costs. The initiative is part of the province’s efforts to sustain high rice harvests throughout the year.

“Although the national target is 5.6 to 6 metric tons of rice per hectare for 2023, our previous harvest averaged 5.3 metric tons per hectare,” Oaminal said.

The voucher distribution is part of a broader assistance program coordinated by the Provincial Agriculture Office and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 10 (Northern Mindanao). The vouchers, varying in value, will be used to purchase fertilizers from suppliers.

In addition to fertilizer vouchers, the provincial government, through DA-10 programs, also supports farmers with farm equipment and training. (PNA)