Farming has been the livelihood of many Filipinos considering the abundance in natural resources and rich farmlands. Among the leading crop production in the Philippines is maize or corn which is also considered as one of the most important staple crops in the country as its consumption is beneficial not just for humans but also for animals.
However, challenges due to the increasing prices of fuel and fertilizers as well as natural disasters greatly affect the small farmers. With the aim to support the corn production in the province and to aid in lessening the local farmers’ farming expenses, 94 corn farmer-beneficiaries from Barangay Cristo Rey, Niño Jesus, and Sta. Maria received free Asian Hybrid Corn Seeds through the Farmers Assistance Program on August 26, 2022 at the Sta. Maria Covered Court, Iriga City. Each farmer-beneficiary received a bag of 9-kilogram corn seeds. The said distribution was personally led by 5th District Representative Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte.
Through the hybrid corn seeds received by the farmers, the program also aims to provide assistance to improve their farming as well as the quality of their harvests. Compared to the regular corn seeds, the hybrid seed crop is believed by the experts to have more significant benefits such as faster growing, high performing in wet and dry season, and exhibits strong resistance from a wide variety of pests. The corn harvests from hybrid seeds are also believed to be more nutritious containing a higher concentration of nutrients.
“Dakulang pasalamat ko po sa Provincial Government of Camarines Sur lalo na po ki Congressman Migz Villafuerte sa tabang po sa arog ming mga paratanom asin paraoma”, said 53-year-old Merla Sanglay, one of the corn farmer-beneficiaries from Sitio Tubigan, Sta. Maria, Iriga City. The destruction of her crops caused by last year’s typhoons urged her to borrow money, thus, receiving the bag of hybrid corn seeds for free is of big help because the money that she was supposed to buy for seeds may now be used to pay off her current debts.
Another corn farmer-beneficiary is 50-year-old Antonia Nacario from Sitio Tubigan, Sta. Maria, Iriga City. Being unable to afford the high quality variants of corn seeds in the market, Nacario picks their best harvests and regrows them in their corn field. Hence, the bag of free hybrid corn seeds that was given to them brought her joy. She delightfully said, “Ngunyan, igwa na po akong magayon na klase nin binhi na ipantatanom. Maraming salamat po sa satong probinsya ta may arog kaining programa.” Apart from growing corn, Nacario plants various vegetables, bananas, and coconut and raise chickens as well.
The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, under the leadership of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, prioritizes the agriculture sector by providing the much-needed support and assistance to the struggling local farmers in the province.
