TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture's Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) has awarded more than P25 million worth of agricultural assistance to qualified farmer-beneficiaries.

DA-RFO2 Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino said the amount awarded through the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (Nupap) included funds to establish smart farming communities in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).

Aquino said these farming communities include 11 farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs), four local government units (LGUs), three DA Region 2 Experiment Stations, and SM City Tuguegarao.

Among the beneficiaries of the said Nupap project were Pamplona LGU in Cagayan; Quezon LGU in Isabela; Mallig LGU and Mallig Pro-Organic Farmers Association in Isabela; DA Isabela Experiment Station; DA Quirino Experiment Station; and DA-Nueva Vizcaya Experiment Station.

Aquino said each beneficiary received 17.5 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds; 50 pieces plastic crates; 150 pieces seedling trays; 10 pcs plastic drums; two soil augers; two mini tilling machines; two wheelbarrows; 400 grams of potting media; 2,500 kilos organic fertilizer; 50 calamansi seedlings; a greenhouse with hydroponics; a poultry house; a nursery; and a mushroom house which amounts to more than P3.17 million.

SM City Tuguegarao also received 17.5 assorted vegetable seeds; 50 pieces calamansi seedlings; 2,500 kilograms organic fertilizer; 400 kilograms potting media; 150 pieces seedling tray; 50 pieces plastic crate; 10 pieces plastic drum; two wheelbarrows; a soil auger; a mini-tilling machine; a greenhouse with hydroponics; a nursery; a poultry house; and a mushroom house, with a total amount of P390,000 worth of agricultural inputs.

The nine selected Nupap project FCA beneficiaries are the Quirino Libertad Farmers Irrigators, Association in Quirino province; Banwar Irrigators Association in Tuao; Cagayan Association in Abulug, Cagayan; Damortis Women's Association in Solana, Cagayan; Northern Tumauini Cereal and Dairy Farmers Coop. in Tumauini, Isabela; Mengal Women Organization Inc. in Echague, Isabela; The Farmers of Luna Agriculture Coop. in Luna, Isabela; Farmers of Luna Agriculture Coop. in Luna, Isabela; Cutar Vegetable Growers in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya; and Federation of Vista Hills, Kalongkong and Kakilingan Upland Farmers Inc. in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Each of these received 4.5 kilos of assorted vegetable seeds and 100 kilograms of organic fertilizer worth P25,784.

Carol Albay, High-Value Crops Development Program and National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture focal person, said they expect the beneficiaries to become role models in their respective communities and encourage young generations to venture into agriculture and be competitive agripreneurs.

"This DA program under the projects of Nupap agricultural interventions is one way for us to achieve our goal of food security and affordable food for all Filipinos," Albay said.