Davao de Oro agriculture reports response on COVID-19

The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) of the provincial government of Davao de Oro reported their initiatives and actions for food security and contingency plan in response to Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

As of May 25, 2020 report during the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) Virtual Meeting, they were able to allocate a total of P15Million pesos for the provision for food security on agriculture and fisheries for COVID-19 emergency situation for the rice, corn and vegetables commodities. They also allocated fuel and other assistance for the operation of the KADIWA on Wheels per cooperative for the Palengke Bound for Barangay (PBB).

PAGRO has allocated a total of 2,727 Liters of Gasoline and 6,979 Liters of Diesoline as of May 24, 2020 as fuel assistance through Kadiwa on wheels for the continuing operation of the PBB.

According to Minda Agarano, PG Head of PAGRO, "with the assistance, as of April 14 to May 15, 2020, more than Php8M estimated sales was generated by the 48 vendors from the six (6) participating municipalities namely: Compostela, Monkayo, Mawab, Maco, Pantukan and Laak servicing 83 barangays."

Meanwhile, as of May 6, 2020 a total of 1,231 rice-farmer-beneficiaries for the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P5,000 each for the first batch within the 10 municipalities of the province with 940 cash cards were already distributed through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

For the 2nd Batch, a total of 303 slots farmer-beneficiaries were allotted with cash cards. For the 3rd batch, a total of 1,090 slots for ongoing verification from LBP and will be released thru payroll list pay out not in cash card.

On the other hand, for the rice seeds positioning 600 bags of inbred seeds were already distributed directly to IA participated in early planting (QTA) and for the High Yield Technology Adoption (HYTA) 2,897 bags hybrid seeds with varieties: M20, US88, Bigante Plus, Longping Variety and SL19 were already delivered and positioned to the bodegas of Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAGRO) of the 11 municipalities.

As of May 22, 2020, 4, 069 bags out of 19,680 bags of inbred seeds at 20kgs/bag with Varieties: Rc 222, Rc 160, Rc 216, Rc 402, and Rc 480 were partially delivered to the municipality of Compostela 2,000 bags, New Bataan 1,054 bags, Montevista 1,015 bags and the remaining seeds will continue to deliver until last week of June 2020.
(Rey Antibo, ID DDO)