At least 3,863 farmers in Davao Region have received hybrid rice seed discount vouchers amounting to PHP28 million under the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program, the regional Department of Agriculture (DA-11) office reported Tuesday.

“The use of hybrid seeds is seen as one of the important contributors to improving the rice yield, especially in irrigated areas,” DA-11 Director Macario Gonzaga said, adding that the assistance covered 5,611.94 hectares of rice fields in the region.

“Farmers can avail of their preferred hybrid rice seeds using the discount vouchers, which are redeemable through accredited merchants near them,” Gonzaga said.

Each farmer received PHP5,000 worth of discount voucher.

The RFFA fund is provided to rice farmers with a rice area not exceeding two hectares.

The program supports farmers affected by the significant decline in palay farm gate prices coinciding with the adoption of the Rice Tarrification Law.

Farmer-beneficiaries registered in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture and encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System are eligible for the assistance.

“The distribution caravan is still ongoing,” Gonzaga said. (PNA)