The Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) distributed free certified palay seeds to farmers.

Distribution will also be done in other parts of Bataan and 56 other provinces in the country.

“This is a program of PhilRice under the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund. The certified palay seeds are free for farmers who will plant this dry season,” PhilRice regional coordinator Frederick Saludes said.

He said that farmer-beneficiaries are entitled to 40 kilograms of free certified seeds for every hectare planted of rice this planting season and the next dry season.

The palay varieties handed out in this town were RC-402, RC-216 and RC-222.

“Mga 57 probinsiya sa bansa ang napiling bigyan ng libreng binhi na binubuo ng halos isang libong munisipyo (Some 57 provinces in the country were chosen to be given free palay seeds which comprise almost 1,000 municipalities),” he said.

Under the PhilRice program are 2 million hectares of ricelands tilled by 1.2 million farmers in 57 provinces.

Saludes said in the case of Samal, farmers were given only a bag of 40 kilograms seeds each regardless of the area of ricelands they cultivate.

The Municipal Agriculture Office decided on this so that more farmers can avail of the free seeds, he added.

Saludes said that only 756 hectares or 60 percent of the total ricelands in this town were included in the program this planting season.

However, he added that all ricelands in the town will become part of the project by the next dry season. (PNA)