STA. BARBARA–At least P400 million has been assured by the national government for irrigation projects in Pangasinan to ensure that the province will deliver its share to make the country self-sufficient in food by 2013.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who visited the province last July 22, committed the amount to be released as follows: P100 million this year, P100 million in 2012, and P200 million in 2013.

The amount which will be sourced from the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA), is in addition to the budget for the ongoing construction of the Agno River Integrated Project (ARIIP) intended to irrigate and additional 31,000 hectares of farmland.

Alcala said Pangasinan, the biggest province in Region 1, will play a significant role in the realization of the DA’s self-sufficiency vision.

While in Pangasinan, Alcala also observed the initial test-run of the newly completed Rice Processing Plant (RPC), which will be operated jointly by the DA and the provincial government.

TIE-UP

Meanwhile, the provincial government has also tied up with Abono partylist in seed production to provide 8,750 bags of certified seeds to farmers during the cropping season next year.

Alcala hailed the project as timely because the DA already scrapped its rice seed subsidy to farmers this year.

He added that the government has cut its rice importation this year.

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