A total of Php161.32 million worth of agri-fishery development projects was awarded today by the Department of Agriculture to various farmers associations and cooperatives in Ilocos Norte led by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar.
In the awarding and distribution held at the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fishery Center in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Sec. Dar, togethet with Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc and other key officials of DA, have awarded and distributed various post-harvest facilities, irrigation network services as well as production inputs to farmers and fisherfolk in both the first and second district in the province.
Of the total project cost, the irrigation network services awarded the largest amount worth Php57.29 million for the construction of small water impounding project, construction and rehabilitation of diversion dams, construction and improvement of irrigation canals as well as the establishment and installation of solar powered fertigation system.
Five DA attached agencies also shared a total of Php81.9 million worth of projects funded under DA-RFO I. These are from the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest and Mechanization with Php47.4million cost of projects, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with Php10 million given to the Bagnos Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Catuguing Multi-purpose Cooperative of Banna and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, respectively.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has likewise shared a total of Php21.1 million in the total project cost awarded and distributed with the turn-over of the multi-species hatchery established in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte to improve and develop the types of fishes being raised in the province.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation likewise awarded a total of Php483,400 and Php133,556 worth of projects to individuals and farmers groups in relation to palay seed production as well as rice indemnification project.
Of all these interventions provided by the DA to farmers and fisherfolk of Ilocos Norte, Governor Manotoc expressed his gratitude to the DA through Sec. Dar for all the support that the agency is giving which has significantly contributed in the improvement of the farming and fishing industry in Iocos Norte.#
