Sebaste: Two municipalities severely affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclone Crising are recipients of 530 bags of certified seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA). DA 6 (Western Visayas), together with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), turned over seed materials to Sebaste and Barbaza for their farmers to use in replanting, according to Antique Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Sonie Guanco on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 530 sacks of certified seeds are part of the quick response of the DA to the municipalities that incurred severe damage to rice crops. In an interview, Guanco stated that both Sebaste and Barbaza have been declared under a state of calamity.
The DA delivered 200 bags, each weighing 40 kg, to Sebaste on July 23, and 330 bags to Barbaza on Thursday. 'There are two bags of seeds allocated for each hectare of rice farm,' Guanco mentioned, highlighting the strategic distribution plan.
Based on the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, the damage to rice crops due to the southwest monsoon reached more than PHP8.18 million, affecting 336.56 hectares of farmland, mostly in the two municipalities.
