The city government has allocated PHP10 million for the National Food Authority (NFA) for the procurement of locally-produced palay and boost the income of local farmers.

This came as Mayor John Dalipe ordered the Office of the City Agriculture (OCA) to subsidize the purchasing price of palay from the local farmers by PHP5 a kilo.

With the subsidy, the price of palay has been increased to PHP24 per kilo from PHP19 a kilo paid to the farmers by the NFA.

“The NFA pays PHP19 per kilo, the city will add PHP5 per kilo. This is much higher than what the farmers in other cities are paid,” Dalipe said Monday.

Dalipe encouraged local palay farmers to plant more rice to increase production as well as their income.

Jover Casimiro, president of the Guisao-Cabaluay Farmers and Irrigators Association, said the increase in the buying price is a big help to the farmers.

Casimiro noted that they spend PHP38,000 to PHP40,000 for one hectare of rice field.

“If we plant hybrid, it even costs more. Although the Department of Agriculture provides the seeds, we also put up expenses to manage palay growth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the OCA is also continuing the distribution of assistance to fisherfolk, especially those affected by the recent weather disturbances.

City agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez said Monday that some 70 fishpond operators in the Tumaga district received 175,000 pieces of shrimp fry, 15 kilos of soil activator and 15 kilos of Aqualife to help them recover the losses incurred. (PNA)