AFFORDABLE RICE. Repacked rice at 10 kilograms per bag to be sold for PHP290 each or PHP29 per kilo at the National Irrigation Administration Kadiwa stores in Nasugbu, Batangas and Naic, Cavite starting August 2024. The grains were harvested under the rice contract farming agreement with irrigators’ associations under the Cavite-Batangas Irrigation Management Office. (Photo courtesy of NIA-Calabarzon)
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Region 4A (Calabarzon) will offer rice at PHP29 per kilogram (kg) starting in August, following a harvest under its rice contract farming program for Cavite and Batangas irrigators’ associations.
Vince Santoalla, NIA-4A’s public relations officer, confirmed in a phone interview on Wednesday that the Cavite-Batangas Irrigation Management Office (IMO) has begun packaging rice in 10-kg bags, which will be sold at PHP290 each.
The palay (unhusked rice) harvest represents the third cropping cycle from NIA's pilot contract farming program, which covered 10 hectares in July out of the 100 hectares contracted farm lots with various irrigators' associations within the Cavite-Batangas area.
The bulk of the harvest is expected to be available in August and September from additional areas, Santoalla added.
In Sariaya, Quezon, he said, a total of 10,435 kilograms of palay were harvested from a 3.14-hectare area on July 26-27 under a contract agreement with the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Samahan ng Magpapatubig, Inc. This will undergo drying and milling before being sold.
Harvesting is anticipated to begin in late August or early September for a 79-hectare farm in Infanta, Quezon contracted and cultivated by Agos River Farmer Irrigators Association, Inc., Santoalla added.
Meanwhile, farmers in Laguna are preparing to plant for the wet cropping season.
Under the contract farming agreement, NIA allocates PHP100,000 per hectare for an anticipated yield of 5 metric tons per hectare. The irrigators' associations receive an initial PHP50,000 per hectare for land preparation, planting materials, fertilizers, and other expenses until harvest.
The NIA purchases the rice at PHP20 per kilo and sells it at PHP29 per kilo, Santoalla said.
“Practically, the association will not shell out capital for the farm inputs. They are assured also of the buyer of the yield which is NIA at fixed price,” he said.
Initially, rice from this harvest will be available at NIA Kadiwa in Cavite-Batangas IMO offices in Nasugbu, Batangas, and Naic, Cavite.
“Priority for this initial rice bags will be given to senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and other less privileged individuals to buy rice at the NIA offices,” Santoalla added. (PNA)
