The Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) is distributing fertilizers to 268 rice farmers in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur.

The agency delivered 980 bags of fertilizer – 490 bags of complete and 490 bags of ammonium sulphate – on Tuesday.

The assistance targets rice-producing barangays Adlay, Gamuton, Bacolod, Panikian and Tag-anito.

“This initiative seeks to boost rice productivity, enrich soil fertility and strengthen the resilience of local farmers,” DA-13 said in a statement Wednesday.

Farmer Marilyn Sugian of Barangay Panikian, a recipient, said the aid would be used in the upcoming planting season.

“I received one sack and 25 kilos of complete fertilizer and another one sack and 25 kilos of sulfate,” Sugian said Wednesday.

She said land preparation is underway and the fertilizers will be applied during planting from the last week of November to the first week of December.

“We are thankful to the government, through the DA for this support. This is a big help to us,” she said.

Sugian estimated recipients could save more than PHP2,000 in expenses with the free fertilizers. (PNA)