SAN MIGUEL–Provincial officials warned farmers of milling or selling the government subsidized certified rice seeds intended for planting in the next season. Vice-Governor Julius Caesar Herrera issued the advice to 79 graduates of the Farmers Field School (FFS) in this town last week during the turn-over of several sacks of certified rice seeds PSB RC-18 variety. The vice-governor said that the certified rice seeds, which are substantially subsidized by the provincial government, are intended for planting and not for milling or selling. The vice-governor reminded the farmers to make use of what the government is providing to increase their production and income at this time of crisis. "What will you sow if you are going to sell these seeds," according to Herrera, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture.

Officer-in-charge provincial agriculturist Larry Pamugas also echoed the call to refrain from using the seeds for other purposes. Pamugas spearheaded the distribution of the certified rice seeds to the farmer-graduates headed by their president Marivic Pardillo with the presence of Herrera in this town. There have been cases that certified rice seeds found their way to the millers and traders that prompted the provincial government to initiate investigation apparently to prevent the practice. In similar event, Herrera also distributed several bags of certified rice seeds to Ubay farmer-graduates of FFS during the 162nd foundation anniversary of this town last week, wherein Mayor Eutiquio Bernales expressed gratitude to the provincial officialdom led by Governor Erico Aumentado. The vice-governor extended his heart-felt congratulations to the FFS farmer-graduates and urged them to plant more crops to cushion the impact of food insufficiency in Bohol especially fruits and vegetables. He said, if given the chance to serve the people for more years, he would focus on agriculture by pouring more funds for farm inputs and extension program to give flesh to his signature cry- -Barangay Green Revolution program.(RVO)