The partnership between the Department of Agriculture (DA-13) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-13) in Caraga to strengthen the “Plant, Plant, Plant” program of the government continues with the recent release of more vegetable seeds for propagation and dispersal to farmers and other stakeholders in the region.

In a statement on Wednesday, DA-13 said a total of 690 pouches and five cans of assorted vegetable seeds were handed over by the High-Value Crops Development Program of DA-13 to the DENR-13.

The seeds will be propagated at the 1,000 square meters modernized forest nursery of DENR-13 in Barangay Maharlika, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

The vegetable seeds were received by DENR-13 regional executive director Nonito M. Tamayo on Tuesday.

“When the seeds are propagated and ready for transplanting, these will be distributed to the different farmers’ groups, institutions, other stakeholders, and individuals in the region,” the DA-13 said.

The collaboration of the two agencies was forged in May 2020 during the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The partnership aimed to help the government to secure food availability and sufficiency amid the pandemic.

The collaboration was under the Ahon Lahat Pagkain Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa Covid-19 program of the DA.

Last year, a total of 27,465 vegetable seedlings were produced by the partnership of the two agencies which were distributed to the neighboring communities, farmers’ groups, and walk-in clients of the nursery. (PNA)