The Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) has disbursed PHP56.5 million worth of fertilizer discount vouchers (FVD) to small rice farmers as of Sept. 18, an official said Thursday.

In an interview, DA-11 rice program coordinator Evelyn Basa said 27,894 rice farmer-beneficiaries so far received their FDVs covering 41,841 hectares of rice fields.

For this year, DA-11 has a total budget of PHP1.17 billion for the program, targeting more than 60,000 rice farmers in the region for the two cropping seasons in a year.

“This will increase their production because DA subsidized at least two to three bags per hectare at a PHP4,000 voucher per hectare,” Basa said.

At least 40 out of 43 municipalities from the five provinces in the region have started distributing the vouchers. Only farmers who are registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) are eligible to receive the support.

Claimable fertilizer grades registered under Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority are as follows: Complete (14-14-14); (16-16-16); Urea (prilled or granular, 46-0-0); Ammonium Sulfate (21-0-0); Ammonium Phosphate (16-20-0); and Muriate of Potash (0-0-60).

To speed up the distribution of vouchers and claiming of fertilizer, Basa said DA and local government units may conduct mass distribution of vouchers through caravans, mapped-out DA-accredited merchants, and farmer-cooperative association representatives. (PNA)