With planting scheduled to begin on June 6, 2025, farmers in Mangaldan are thankful for the timely arrival of certified and hybrid rice seeds from the Department of Agriculture.

Among the beneficiaries is Samuel Aquino of Barangay Buenlag, who said the seed assistance came just in time.

“Balbaleg na salamat ta talagan kailangan miya. Ito ang gagamitin talaga namin sa pagtatanim,” he said.

Even before the seed distribution began, some farmers have already started preparing their fields.

The Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office has already started distributing the seeds to over 2,500 rice farmers across the town. To avoid overcrowding and ensure an organized system, the distribution follows a strict schedule.

The amount of seed given depends on the size of the land being farmed. According to DA recommendations, each farmer receives 40 kilograms of certified seeds per hectare, or 15 kilograms of hybrid seeds per hectare.

“Sa ganito karaming binhi, sigurado po kami na mabibigyan namin lahat ng farmers,” Manuel Aquino, Rice Coordinator of the Municipal Agriculture Office, said.

A total of over 4,000 sacks of rice seeds have been allocated for Mangaldan.

The Agriculture Office urges farmers to wait for the official cropping calendar from the National Irrigation Administration to ensure proper water scheduling and avoid irrigation issues during planting.