The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently disbursed P36,843,300 in financial assistance to 5,226 rice farmers in the province of Romblon. The cash aid was released during the last week of January, this year, as part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program for 2024.
According to DA-MIMAROPA Agriculturist Angelie Fermanejo, the list of beneficiaries was sent to the local government units (LGUs) in Romblon.
The RFFA program targets farmers cultivating rice areas of two hectares or less, providing them with much-needed support to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. Each qualified farmer received P7,000 in financial aid, distributed through the DA’s Intervention Monitoring Card (IMC). IMC is similar to an automated teller machine (ATM) card, where the financial assistance is credited.
“The primary goal of RFFA is to provide financial assistance to our small-scale farmers who have been most affected by the decline in palay prices due to the Rice Tariffication Law or the unlimited importation of rice,” according to Fermanejo.
“Secondly, it aims to give our farmers access to timely funds that will support their farming needs, such as purchasing fertilizers, pesticides, and other essential inputs for their farms,” she further explains.
The RFFA program is a key component of the government’s efforts to support small-scale rice farmers, particularly in light of challenges posed by rising production costs and market competition.
