NAIC, Cavite (PIA) – As a commitment to support local farmers and enhance their agricultural productivity, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Calabarzon has formalized a partnership with Cavite and Batangas-based irrigator associations (IA).

Among the approved provisions in the agreement is that farm inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, bio-fertilizers, and cash assistance totaling P50,000 per hectare for farmers, will be awarded to IA members as a significant investment in the success of rice farming in the region.

NIA said that over 100 hectares of farm lands will be put under rice contract farming, which will benefit 62 farmers.

The MOA encompasses nine IAs, including Putat Balok Balok Bayabas IA, Campo Avejar IA, Nasugbu Batangas Central IA, Banlikan IA, Nasugbu East Farmers IA Inc., SMMT Cavite Pioneer IA, CMSJTF IA, Balite-Munti-Doreo IA, and Bucal Pasong Malainen IA.

The organizations cover three irrigation systems in the two provinces, namely the Balayungan River Irrigation System and Kay Akle River Irrigation System in Cavite and the Palico River Irrigation System in Batangas.

Reynaria Tapia, the administrative and finance division manager of NIA Calabarzon, sees the partnership as a strategic approach of the agency in aiding farmers, on which she expects them to play an active role in achieving broader objectives, such as helping the various initiatives of the government in attaining food security.

"I see that this contract farming program is a strategic approach by our NIA top management to effectively support our farmers. That's why we hope that our beneficiaries will become more part of the food security initiative of the government,” she said.

Arnesto Dino, president of the Cavite IA Federation, expressed gratitude to NIA for bringing the program and hopes that it will help promote agricultural development at the grassroots level, which will safeguard the livelihood and income of small farmers in Cavite.

“We think that this program is not only targeting an increase in our yield, but also to help us stop the activities of exploitative rice traders,” he said.

Batangas IA Federation president Teodoro Jonson backs up the program and projects that the initiative will provide more opportunities to improve their livelihood.

"We will do everything to make this program a success, which used to be just a dream, but now it is happening all because of NIA," Jonson said.

In a report released by NIA Calabarzon, 271 hectares of farmland are involved in contract farming region- wide which currently benefits 278 farmers from 17 IAs across Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon provinces. (AM/PIA-4A; with reports from NIA Calabarzon)