Manager Francisco Lorico of the Provincial National Food Authority in Negros Oriental yesterday said the implementation of the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project is temporarily suspended, in line with a memorandum from the Department of Agriculture. 

The RaSSFiP is a program that aims at helping rice farmers by providing a quality seed for them, especially those affected by drought, floods and pest infestation.

Lorico said Negros Oriental still has P3 million available for the RaSSFiP, since the DA ordered a suspension of the program.

He said they are still waiting for further instructions from the DA on what to do with the remaining funds.

Lorico said the rice seeds are provided by the Negros Oriental Seed Growers Association, and are of good quality having undergone evaluation and quality control.

He said NFA was assigned to handle the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project, because of availability of storage facility and their expertise.

At present, there are no available rice seeds at the NFA Bodega as they were all purchased during the last planting season, Lorico said.

The provincial government purchased 833 sacks of rice seeds last November through the Provincial Agriculture Office. 

Lorico said he is hoping that the program will resume since it has helped majority of the farmers to avail of a low price, and quality rice seeds.*MA

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