Our farmers play vital role in improving our economy, says Governor Yu

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, June 29— “Farmers are very important in our economy”.

Thus disclosed Governor Victor Yu in the provincial turnover of P55-M worth of agricultural machinery to farmers associations held in Subanen Hall, barangay Dao recently.

It is said that 70% to 80% of our people in the country depend on farming as a means of livelihood, Yu said quoting the statement of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

Yu also added that Zamboanga del Sur, farmers rely heavily on their single source of income by engaging in farming such as: planting rice and corn, coconut, and raising livestock, and others.

The good governor said that it is necessary for the government to help the farmers so that our economy can improve.

He pointed out that farmers are responsible for producing the vast majority of the world's food supply where they grow crops, raise livestock, and produce other food products, manage large tracts of land and their practices have a significant impact on the environment.

Yu said that due to the great concern of the national government for the farmers, President Marcos gave P10,000 each to the 1,500 farmers in the province to help them recover slowly from the bad effects of the long drought experienced in our country in the past months.

He added that Marcos also continued to give fertilizer to small farmers saying he wanted to lower the price of rice in the market where he also gave two bags of fertilizer per hectare to farmers.

Since the national government provides subsidies, Yu also urged the local government units (LGUs) to provide financial subsidies to farmers so that they will be given protection and their meager income will not shrink further and they will be able to compete in the market. (jcc/The Pagadian Times)