Dry spell continues to severely affect Butuan farms

BUTUAN CITY – The dry spell that is sweeping across Butuan City and Agusan del Norte has severely affected close to 10,000 farmers.

The City Agriculture’s Office (CAO) disclosed that more than million in damages have been recorded. “Most of these damaged rice fields were already set for harvesting,” said CAO Officer Albert Boca.

He added that thousands of hybrid seeds for 3,000 hectares were already prepared but not planted by farmers here.

Initially, more than 150 hectares of rice fields were severely damaged by dry spell that started early this year.

Meanwhile, the city government of Butuan recently turned-over Capital Seed Fund (CSF) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-13) beneficiaries in Barangay Doongan in support their livelihood program.

A composting machine from the office of Sen. Cynthia Villar and the Villar Foundation was also recently given to the city government of Butuan for the barangay’s vermiculture project where a portion of the produced organic fertilizer will be sold and the remaining product to be utilized for Barangay Doongan’s backyard gardening.

The city government of Butuan, through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), also recently received from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) intended for employment services.

The fund was intended for the 30 beneficiaries from Manila de Bugabos Farmers Association and 84 beneficiaries from the M.J Santos Farmers Association, both in Butuan City.

“This financial assistance is very vital especially that our farmers have been severely affected by the drought,” said Region 13 DOLE Regional Director Atty. Johnson Canete. (Mike U. Crismundo)