Bohol's rice farmers to get P13-M aid

The provincial government of Bohol has released P13.78 million as financial assistance for rice growers in the province.

Gov. Erico Aumentado said on Sunday the fund was released Friday and would go to the provincial government's Rice Accelerated Enhancement Response (Racer) and the Bohol Seeds Assistance Project for rice growers.

The release of the subsidy to rice farmers, who have been accredited by the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture, was expected to raise the province's rice sufficiency to 100 percent by the end of 2008, he said.

He also defended anew his executive order which regulates the shipment of rice to grain traders in other provinces.

Aumentado said Boholanos should be assured of enough supply of rice in the coming lean months as Bohol has been only 82.5-percent rice sufficient per Bureau of Agriculture Statistics data.

The P13.78-million subsidy will be spread over rice growers in some 15 municipalities, according to Aumentado.

"The [seed assistance] project is intended to make Bohol self-sufficient in rice by 2009," he added.

Hybrid rice and certified rice seeds would be used to increase the yield in the 15 towns, said Aumentado.

Project Racer has two other major components, which include the expansion of areas for rice and corn production.