LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte - High-value crops’ farmers in Ilocos Norte have received inputs from the Ilocos Norte government as an aid for increasing their productivity in the next cropping season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 2,500 bags of organic fertilizers, 2,000 bags of calcium sulfate, 700 bags of calcium nitrate, and 930 liters of insecticide were given to mango growers, through their respective local government units and organizations.
Aside from mango growers, the rice, vegetable and other high-value crops growers in the Ilocos Norte received the assistance.
“Ang mga ibabahagi natin ngayon ay para sa rehabilitation ng mahigit 8,300 na puno ng mangga dito sa probinsiya. Ibibigay na natin ang mga agri inputs para magamit na nila ito bilang paghahanda sa pamumulaklak ng mga puno, higit na dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan mula ngayon,” said Edwin Cariño, the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) chief in Ilocos Norte.
(What’s been given is for the rehabilitation of over 8,300 mango trees in the province. The agri inputs will be distributed can ready for the blooming of the trees two to three months from now.)
The farmers also received a total of 25 units of gasoline-fed water pump engine from a private donor.
“Ang Ilocos Norte government na ang nag-provide ng mga materyal para sa mga growers natin. Malaking kaluwagan sa kanilang gastusin ang mga agri inputs na ito at makatutulong rin sa productivity ng kanilang mga tanim. Higit sa lahat, libre ang mga ito para sa kanila,” Cariño reiterated.
(The Ilocos Norte government provided materials for our growers. It’s a big help in their expenses for agri inputs and can also help in the productivity of their crops. Most of all, these are free for them.”)
He said the his office is also assisting the Ilokano farmers through the creation of small farm reservoirs in the province to further improve the quality of their crops, alongside with the distribution of vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and necessary equipment.