A total of 555 registered farmers from 30 rural barangays of Batac City in Ilocos Norte have received foliar fertilizers to help sustain the production of their high-value crops.

Batac City Mayor Mark Christian Chuan confirmed this in an interview on Wednesday as he reported the continuing agricultural assistance of the city government aims to help farmers maintain crop health and productivity by providing additional nutrients during critical stages of plant growth.

The intervention is expected to help reduce production costs while supporting farmers in sustaining their yields and income.

“Alam natin ang sipag at tiyaga ng ating mga magsasaka. Kaya patuloy nating ginagawa ang ating makakaya para mabigyan sila ng support na makakatulong sa kanilang produksyon at kabuhayan (We know the hard work and perseverance of our farmers. That is why we continue to do our best to help boost their production and livelihood),” Chua said.

Farmer-beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the city government for the timely assistance which was handed to them on Monday, saying the fertilizer support will help them manage farm expenses amid increasing costs of agricultural inputs.

“We sincerely thank the city government of Batac for their quick response in terms of disaster and for their timely intervention when we need it most,” said Jenny Onera, a former overseas Filipino worker who opted to become a farmer-entrepreneur when she returned home in Batac.

City Agriculturist Mark Allan Abad said the distribution formed part of continuing government efforts to strengthen the city’s high-value crop sector and provide farmers with appropriate inputs and technical assistance.

The program also seeks to improve farm productivity and help ensure a stable supply of agricultural products.

The initiative demonstrates the city’s effort to bring agricultural assistance directly to farming communities and strengthen the livelihoods of local producers.

The support for high-value crops is expected to contribute to higher farm productivity, improved household incomes, and a more resilient agricultural sector in Batac City.

Meanwhile, the city government has distributed 9-kilowatt silent-type generator sets to all its 43 barangays as part of its efforts to strengthen local disaster preparedness and ensure continuity of essential services during power interruptions and emergencies.

The assistance is intended to provide communities with an alternative power source during typhoons, floods, earthquakes, prolonged brownouts, and other emergencies.

The generator sets can help keep critical operations running, particularly during disaster response and relief activities. (PNA)