LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — The National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera (NIA-CAR) is eyeing to expand the rice contract farming initiative in the region to sustain the production and selling of rice at lower price.
Under the contract farming program, farmers who are members of irrigators’ associations (IAs) enter into a memorandum of agreement with NIA, which will provide an initial P50,000 worth of farm inputs and cash for a one-hectare field for the agreed cropping season.
Following the harvest, NIA will provide compensation of P50,000 for five tons of fresh palay per hectare. This will be milled and sold at P29 per kilogram at the Kadiwa stores of NIA.
NIA-CAR Regional Manager Engr. Benito Espique Jr. said that the total area for rice contract farming in the region, particularly in Kalinga and Apayao, is around 496 hectares.
“Ang total area ng contract farming sa atin ay 496 hectares. Ito po ay i-improve na by next year, lalaki ang area. Ang target natin by next year is mga 2,700 hectares. ‘Yan po ang ipla-plano namin para ma-attain namin ‘yung 2,700 hectares na area for contract farming. Darami ‘yung mai-produce nating bigas na maipagbibili natin presyong 29 pesos per kilo,” Espique said.
He explained that the expansion initiative is to provide affordable local rice, and a part of the government’s commitment to improve agricultural productivity while supporting the community.
The NIA CAR joined the nationwide launch of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka Rice (BBMRICE) @ 𝐏𝟐𝟗/𝐤𝐠 initiative last September 13.
The rice sold by NIA-CAR at its regional office in Brgy. Wangal, La Trinidad, during the launch were the first harvests of IAs who signed up with the contract farming earlier this year.
The NIA reports show that 18 IAs within the responsibility areas of Kalinga and Apayao Irrigation Management Offices have signed for first contract farming scheme in the Cordillera region. As of September 5, about 41 hectares of total of 497.08 hectares contracted areas are already harvested.
The priority groups that benefited from the program are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and single parents.
Espique called on the IAs to continue supporting the government initiatives to sustain the P29/kg of rice.
“Magtulungan tayo para ma-sustain natin ‘yung contract farming at darami pa ‘yung matulungan nating mga kababayan natin, bababa ‘yung presyo, ma-sustain natin ‘yung 29 pesos per kilo na bigas,” he said. (JDP/DEG with Nicole Pauline Panis & Ydelvess Faith Morales – PIA CAR, SLU Interns)
