THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended P16.3 million worth of agricultural assistance to Marinduque for the rehabilitation program for both agriculture and fishery industries badly damaged by typhoon Nina.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol led the distribution of agricultural goods and marine engines to almost 500 affected farmers and fisherfolk during the stakeholders’ consultation in Boac, Marinduque recently.
"I am amazed by the resilience of the Marinduque people,” Piñol said.
The rehabilitation assistance includes 1,000 bags of certified palay seeds, 50 bags of OPV white corn seeds, 50 bags of ordinary hybrid corn seeds, 40 kilos of assorted vegetable seeds, 30,000 pieces of coffee planting materials, 65,000 pieces of cacao planting materials, 55 heads of upgraded dairy goats (5 heads per municipality and 25 heads for the Provincial Veterinary Office), P35,326 worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry industry (equivalent to 12 bottles of gentamizine,12 bottles of vitamin b complex, 6 bottles of abendaze 1liter each and 12 boxes of multivitamins), and 50 marine engines and fishing paraphernalia (150 sets of gillnets and 10 units of handline).
The DA chief also announced the establishment of the Provincial Lakatan Nursery amounting to P10 million to propagate the production of banana industry in the province.
"Bibilhin namin ang semilya ng Lakatan dito sa probinsya at palalakihin sa nursery tapos ibabalik at ipapamigay muli namin sa inyo ang mga ito,” Piñol said, adding that if the bananas in the province do not suffer any disease, then it is better to protect its seedlings for production.
Typhoon Nina has damaged a total of 1,431 hectares (ha) of rice areas and 33 ha of corn areas. (SDR/Sunnex)