TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture here is encouraging people to grow their own food while on Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo said the department is giving free vegetable seeds to the public through their different municipal agriculture offices.

He said the department has already ordered the respective municipal agriculturist of the different towns in the region to coordinate with DA on their seed requirements.

The seed requirements according to Edillo will be sent to the seven research stations of the department for the differerent MAOs to pick-up that will be in-charged to facilitate the distribution.

“It’s good that people have something to plant and looking for something to harvest while on ECQ”, Edillo said.

For those who do not have enough space, he urged them to use recycable materials like mineral water containers, plastic containers or sacks. 

Edillo added that the seed distribution's goal is to make every household have their very own a long-lasting food supply while everyone is experiencing ECQ. 

Meanwhile, the department is now preparing for the needed inputs for farmers this month of May ready for the next planting season.

He said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is now ready to release water in its irrigation canals so that farmers can start planting this coming month.

As of today, Edillo assured that the region is not facing any food shortage. (MDCT/GVB/PIA 2-Cagayan)