LC backs crop insurance, purchase of hybrid seeds

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

September 5, 2013

THE LAOAG City government has backed the proposals to insure crops in the city and to purchase hybrid rice and corn seeds. The proposals were made by the City Agriculture and Fishery Council (CAFC). 

In the said proposal, the council asked the city government to appropriate funds from the city’s tobacco excise tax share to be used for the premiums of the crop insurance and purchase of the hybrid seeds.

Council chairperson Arlindo Canete explained in the proposal that the crop insurance proposal was made to help farmers whose crops are damaged by calamities and thereby safeguarding their income.

Currently, farmers whose crops are damaged by calamities apply for production loans for replanting but according to them, this is takes a heavy financial burden on their part because of high interest rates.

To remedy this, the council decided on crop insurance and has requested Laoag City Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas to appropriate funds from the city’s excise tax share to pay for the premium of the crop insurance. This would be become a subsidy for farmers in the city who tills 3,149 hectares.

In the second resolution, the CAFC observed the high prices of hybrid rice and corn seeds. Due to this, several farmers lend their farm to other farmers who have enough funds to finance the purchase of hybrids seeds and its subsequent productions. Other farmers however choose not to farm, leaving their farmland idle.

In view of this, the CAFC passed a resolution addressed to the mayor for the purchase of hybrid rice and corn seeds for 526 hectares and 500 hectares, respectively, and to be distributed to the farming barangays in the city as grant.

During a regular session, members of the council unanimously approved an urgent resolution supporting the CAFC proposals.

However, in the absence of a certification for the availability of fund from the local finance committee, the city council amended the resolutions and instead of appropriating funds, they expressed their support for the two measures while waiting for the funding.

Laoag councilor Derick Lao, chairperson of the council’s committee on agriculture, said this will be of great help to the farmers especially those who cannot afford to buy hybrid rice and corn seeds.

City agriculturist Oscar Recta, for his part, stated that the proposed resolutions needs an approximate funding of P7 million every year if this would be granted with the availability of fund from the tobacco excise tax share.

City budget officer Carlina Cumigad meanwhile confirmed that the city’s tobacco excise tax share for this year has not been given by the national government yet. She explained that there was an error in the computation for the city’s share. Candon City in Ilocos Sur has also not received its excise tax share as well, she added.

Cumigad further disclosed that the city, which is not a tobacco-growing city, receives a smaller amount compared to the other tobacco-growing cities and municipalities.