For the past years, the agricultural sector has suffered great financial losses due to the natural calamities that frequented the province such as strong typhoons which gravely destroyed our abundant farmlands. Also, with the pandemic limiting mobility of goods due to the lockdowns, strict standard health protocols as well as the spike in the prices of basic commodities and even farming seeds and equipment, our farmers had struggled to make ends meet as these changes immensely brought a grave impact in their source of livelihood.
To address this concern, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the Ka Fuerte Farmer’s Assistance Program, was able to extend support and aid to our farmers and members of the agricultural sector because of the program. Recently, over 2,000 farmers from the municipalities of Nabua and Bula of the Rinconada District were able to receive 20kgs sack of hybrid palay seeds last July 29 & 31, 2022.
Nestor Olayon, a farmer beneficiary from Portico, Bula expressed his joy upon receiving this kind of assistance from the provincial government because his livelihood is solely dependent on farming and tilling the farmlands. According to him, the hybrid palay seeds he received would help in lessening their expense in farming.
“Naoogma po kami na saro po ako sa paraoma na matatawanan nin banhi ta sa ngunyan po mahal po an banhi. Ini po nakakadagdag ini sa input sa pag-ooma mi. Magayon po na may programang arog kaini an gobyerno ta may asistensya para sa mga paraoma na nakakatabang na maray. Sana kadakol pang maabot kaini bako lang kami ta dapat gabos na paraoma,” Olayon shared.
Grateful for the assistance given to him and fellow farmers, Olayon expressed his gratitude to the Provincial Government under the leadership of Gov. Luigi Villafuerte and 5th District Representative Cong. Migz Villafuerte who initiated in the implementation of the program, “Sa pamamayo ni Gov. Luigi asin Cong. Migz Villafuerte, lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa assistensyang tinatao samuya na,” he said.
“Dakulang tabang talaga sa mga paraoma an mga pig tataong libreng palay seeds ta kaipuhan talaga yang maray sa pag-oma. Ini po talaga si paparahalat mi na mai-continue ang programa ta an pangangaipo ming paraoma, bako lang yan sa ngunyan. Dakula po ang pasasalamat mi ta pag may nag-aabot man na kalamidad, kaming paraoma din an natatawanan ninda nin priority lalo na ngunyan na grabe nanaman an uran, igwa nanaman sindang programa na nagtao nin banhi,” shared Jimal Largo, a farmer beneficiary from Sagrada, Bula who stressed out the importance of this program to him and all the farmers especially that they felt the outmost support from the provincial government by making them a priority in times of calamities.
“Malaking tulong po sa amin ito kasi di na kami mahihirapan mag hanap ng itatanim sa aming palayan. Ito na po ang kabuhayan namin kaya malaki po ang magiging income namin dito,” also said Marivic Arales of La Victoria, Bula who also received a sack of palay seeds from the provincial government. She emphasized that because of the program, they no longer have to look for seeds to plant in the fields which is their livelihood.
Olayon, Largo and Arales are just among the farmer-beneficiaries who benefitted from the Ka Fuerte Farmer’s Assistance Program. Despite this trying times, our farmers remained resilient and with the help of the provincial government, we can continue to bring hope in the lives of our local farmers and further improve agriculture in the province through the program.
