At least 10,805 farmers in the Davao Region have so far received the hybrid rice seed discount vouchers amounting to PHP72.9 million, the regional Department of Agriculture (DA-11) office said on Wednesday.

The amount covered 16,056 hectares of rice lands under DA’s National Rice Program (NRP)-FY 2024 Regular Fund, with each farmer receiving PHP5,000 discount vouchers per hectare.

DA-11 Director Macario Gonzaga said farmers can purchase their preferred hybrid rice seeds using discount vouchers redeemable through accredited merchants in their area.

“The use of hybrid seeds is seen as one of the important contributors to increasing the rice yield,” he said.

The program supports farmers affected by the significant decline in palay farm gate prices coinciding with adopting the Rice Tarrification Law.

Farmer-beneficiaries listed in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture and encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System are eligible for the assistance.

On the other hand, rice farmers with an area not exceeding two hectares also received PHP5,000 cash assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund’s Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance. (PNA)