PILA, Laguna (PIA) – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region IV-A aims to ramp up the production and selling of P29.00 per kilo of rice under the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice Program, with the goal of benefiting more individuals from vulnerable sectors in the region.
During the 22nd iteration of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, NIA Region IV-A Regional Manager Roberto Dela Cruz states that NIA is actively seeking ways to boost rice production through the Contract Farming Program.
“Originally, we aim to target 40,000 hectares nationwide, some regions have large allocations while other have none. However, for Calabarzon, we did not agree to have zero allocation. We convinced our irrigators associations to start even a small pilot project so we can see the results,” Dela Cruz said.
The contract farming initiative provides participating farmers with P50,000 initial assistance for farming inputs, land preparation, harvesting and hauling, which includes P30,000 for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, along with P20,000 in cash to cover labor costs.
“The turn out of the program has been very positive, operating on a breakeven basis and implementing a program that increases the income and production of farmers is already a significant success. Farmers have realized this, and now many other members of the irrigators’ association are eager to join,” the regional manager shared.
Based on the agency’s data, only 271 hectares in the entire region are currently part of the Contract Farming Program, which includes key areas in Nasugbu, Batangas; Maragondon, Cavite; Infanta and Sariaya, Quezon and Sta. Maria, Laguna.
Due to the positive outcome and interest from other farmers, NIA is set to cover 500 hectares of farmlands per Irrigation Management Office (IMO) in 2025 to support more farmers and provide more affordable rice for vulnerable sectors.
As the program progresses, Dela Cruz believes that with the support and cooperation of various government agencies, more affordable rice will be available not only to vulnerable sectors but also to the general public. (CO/PIA-4A)
The Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas is a weekly media forum program of the Philippine Information Agency, in partnership with the Presidential Communications Office, highlighting the programs, projects, and policies of the national government under the Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
