Region’s 145,000 farmers covered by crop insurance

By September 20, 2020Business, News

SOME 145,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the region are already covered by crop insurance issued by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) in Region 1 this year.

This was disclosed by Raul Servito, regional manager of the PCIC when he spoke during KBP’s virtual forum on September 17.

He said those insured constitute 80 percent of the 182,000 farmers and fisherfolk in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte targeted to be ensured by PCIC this year.

He said more than 5,000 had already filed claims for damages wrought by drought, pests and plant diseases but none for damages caused by typhoons since no strong typhoon struck the region this year.

And since most of the provincial borders in the region are still closed, claims for damaged crops were filed online and the damaged crops were inspected by extension officers of the corporation.

Servito said his office has tied up with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the crop insurance of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Meanwhile, Roger Evangelista, center director of Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Sta. Barbara, told the KBP Virtual Forum that his office is focused in promoting the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” that encourages all sectors to plant food crops on any available spaces in urban or rural areas to ensure food sustainability.

He said ATI is distributing starting kits to anyone who want to plant food crops in their backyard and providing technical support to families who will engage in backyard vegetable gardening, a centerpiece program, to ensure that they will no longer buy vegetables from the market. (Leonardo Micua)

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