Cagayan farmers affected by Typhoon Ompong to receive aid from Australian gov't

The farming communities in Cagayan province affected by Typhoon Ompong in September are set to receive various assistance from international organizations through the aid of the Australian government.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will distribute fertilizers to support the alternative short-term income source of farmers as they wait for the next harvest season.

These farmers who have missed the previous harvest season due to the typhoon were initially given rice seeds and vegetable seeds by the Department of Agriculture in order to start anew.

Production-related training will also be provided by FAO to the beneficiaries.

On the other hand, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will offer cash assistance to the farming families to address their immediate food security needs.

The one-time financial support will be equivalent to 10 days of the minimum wage of agricultural workers in Cagayan.

The Australian government's emergency assistance amounts to a total of P23 million and is expected to benefit 2,000 farming families in the province. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News