The Department of Agriculture – Caraga (DA-13) on Thursday reported the arrival of 1,500 bags of certified seeds that will be distributed to rice farmers whose farms were devastated by Typhoon Odette.

In a statement, the DA-13 said the certified rice seeds came from the agriculture offices in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and Region 11 (Davao Region).

“The arrival of the certified seeds is part of the commitment of the DA – Mindanao cluster regional offices for rehabilitation efforts of the rice farming sector in the Caraga region,” it said.

To complement the rice seeds, the DA-13 said it will also provide some 685 bags of certified rice seeds, 200 bags of hybrid rice seeds, and 156 bags of registered seeds.

The interventions of DA-13 to the rice farmers will be coordinated with the local government units through the provincial and municipal agriculture offices.

The agency said the Philippine Rice Research Institute – Agusan, through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, has also distributed 884 bags of certified seeds to the affected rice farmers in Butuan City, and 994 bags to Remedios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte last week.

Also last week, the DA-13 said a total of 3,292 farmers in Butuan City received PHP5,000 cash assistance through the RCEF – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance Program.

In its initial January 3 report, the DA-13 said around PHP1.78 billion worth of crops were destroyed by “Odette” in the region.

The agency said the region’s rice sector alone has incurred some PHP116 million worth of losses due to the recent typhoon. (PNA)