The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has given seed assistance to 3,725 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Pangasinan to help them maintain their farms and incomes amid rising energy and farm input costs.
In a statement on Monday, the DAR said it distributed 16,502 packs of high-quality vegetable seeds through 113 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations across all six congressional districts of the province.
The seed packs include climate-resilient varieties of ampalaya, eggplant, chili, string beans, tomato, and okra. The program aims to help farmers reduce production costs and continue planting despite economic pressures and the ongoing energy situation.
DAR said the support is part of efforts to help farmers become more productive and eventually develop into agribusiness entrepreneurs, even during national crises.
A DAR provincial official said the agency is also coordinating with other government offices, including the Land Transportation Office, Philippine Carabao Center, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to expand assistance programs.
The seed distribution is also intended to help restore livelihoods in areas of Pangasinan affected by recent typhoons, including Nando and Opong.
