DA gives livelihood assistance to Dagupan farmers

DAGUPAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to support this premier city in Region-1 by giving additional livelihood assistance to  local farmers.

The fresh DA assistance was in the form of at least 1,000 coffee seedlings which was distributed by the city government to some 200 beneficiaries from different barangays.

The recipients are farmers from barangays Salisay, Mangin, Tebeng, Bonuan Boquig, Bonuan Binloc, Bonuan Gueset, Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Lucao, Malued, Bolosan, Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Mamalingling and Pogo Grande.

City Agriculturist Emma Molina said that planting coffee will help meet the current high demand for coffee beans in the market.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol speaks before the agriculture stakeholders as Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio and Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez listen. The event was the recent visit of Pinol in the eastern Pangasinan town.

“The coffee seedlings were of the Arabica and Robusta varieties which are not highly-sensitive and can be planted under existing trees. This would be beneficial to our farmers as most of them plant fruit-bearing trees and these seedlings can thrive under the shade of those trees, ” said Molina.

Meanwhile, at least 24 farmers from barangays Salisay, Mangin and Bonuan Boquig also received certified palay seeds from the DA. The beneficiaries are those whose  crops  were greatly damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon “Ompong”.

“These were intended for those masterlisted for ‘Ompong’ rehabilitation, whose farms still have access to sources of water that can sustain their crops during this dry season,” added Molina.

Molina also disclosed that the same farmers were also affected during the extreme flooding as a result of heavy southwest monsoons rains last July and August. 

The City Agriculture Office is requesting more seedlings from DA for more farmers in the city. (Verdelle De Vera/CIO)