|
By Chino S. Leyco
The Japanese government extends a
hand to Filipino farmers living below the poverty line through a
loan grant intended to boost yields from their produce.
In a statement, the Department of
Agriculture said Japan has agreed to make available to small rice
farmers in the Philippines roughly the equivalent of $2.59 million
in development assistance.
Last week, the two governments
signed the Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers to
enable rice tillers in the Philippines’ 11 poorest provinces to
buy ammonium sulphate fertilizer totaling 20,000 metric tons.
DA Secretary Arthur Yap said the
fertilizers will be distributed to farmers whose landholdings are
two hectares and below in selected areas in Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva
Ecija, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Albay, Camarines Sur,
Iloilo, Negros Occidental, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
“We hope that these tillers who
can barely meet their families’ basic needs will be able to raise
their per-hectare yields and incomes through this foreign aid,”
Yap said.
Shipments of the fertilizer
purchases funded by the Japanese grant are expected to come in
beginning June this year, Yap said.
The Philippines, is a recipient
of the Tokyo aid since 1977, was selected by Japan in December as
one of six countries eligible for this grant. The signing of the
tender documents for the grant was held in Tokyo on February 25. 
|
