“The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I through the High Value Cops Development Program is set to buy additional vegetable seed stocks for distribution to households in the four provinces.”

Dr. Annie Bares, Chief of the DA-RFO I’s Operations Division said this following more clamors for free vegetables seeds from netizens so that they could plant in their backyards with the on-going enhanced community quarantine in the county brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The provision of free vegetable seeds in light of the COVID-19 situation aims to help families have an immediate source of agri products right in their backyard. Since there is not enough supply to satisfy all requests, the seeds are distributed on a fist-come first-served basis at the DA regional office and on limited number only just enough for backyard gardening.

“We have a separate program for farmers who intend to plant more in areas suitable for vegetable production. The procurement process is on-going. We’ll just have to wait for the time of delivery,” Dr. Bares said.

Meanwhile, in availing of the free-seeds, Dr. Bares advised the interested clients to coordinate with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist in all the Local Government Units in the four provinces especially those inaccessible to the DA-RFO I regional office and satellite stations while waiting for the delivery schedule.

Based on the High Value Crops Development Program’s Plan and Budget reported by Ms. Maricar Bongais, Focal Person of the HVCDP in Ilocos, the DA-RFO I has allocated P7 million for the purchase of various kinds of vegetable seeds this CY 2020 under its Regular Fund alongside with its buffer stocks worth P2.8 million to cover the 616 hectares target area for various vegetable production in the region.