Around two million farmers are expected to benefit from the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Sa mga rice farmers, more than two million rice farmers ito na makikinabang sa buong Pilipinas,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel De Mesa said in a Saturday news forum in Quezon City where he discussed the benefits brought by the IMC to the farmers.
The DA’s IMC serves as both an identification and cash card intended for farmers.
“Ang pangunahin [layunin] dito is makakawala sila doon sa mga loan sharks. Imagine mo, sa 5-6 that’s 20 percent per month – ito one percent sa isang cropping season o sa kalahating taon ay two percent per annum, halos hindi ramdam ito ng ating mga magsasaka,” De Mesa said.
“Kasi ito iyong kulang eh sa ngayon, na ang mga magsasaka natin ‘pag mayroong ganitong facility kagaya noong na-experience namin before, ang kanilang pagbayad umaabot hanggang 95% iyong kanilang paying rate,” he added.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the launch of the “Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program” in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, on Friday.
In his speech, President Marcos said that under the program, each farmer will receive an IMC, which can be used to purchase seeds and fertilizers, as well as other farming tools, through accredited merchants.
“So, credit facility ito na ibibigay natin ngayon sa mga magsasaka na rehistrado sa Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture. They can avail ng credit up to P68,000 kada cropping season, so magandang oportunidad ito,” De Mesa said.
He added that the program is given to qualified farmers on top of the existing subsidies or ‘ayuda,’ which the farmers will receive from the government in the form of seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and irrigation.
PND
