AFFORDABLE RICE. Apayao farmers who are members of an irrigators’ association in Flora, Apayao turn over their production to the National Irrigation Administration through a contract farming agreement scheme in this undated photo. At least 250 hectares of rice farms in Apayao were contracted under the government's bid to sell rice at PHP29 a kilo. (Photo from NIA-Cordillera FB)
BAGUIO CITY – Apayao farmers tapped to plant rice that will be sold for PHP29 per kilo have started harvesting, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Cordillera said in a social media post Friday.
“There are nine irrigators’ associations with a total of 250 hectares that signed up for the contract farming scheme with the NIA Apayao Irrigation Management Office,” the NIA said.
As of Friday, rice planted in about 6.5 hectares of land under the Lagac Sta. Maria Irrigators Associations in Flora, Apayao have been harvested.
Information from the Department of Agriculture - Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) showed that on the average, about five tons per hectares are produced in Kalinga while Apayao averages 7 to 8 tons per hectare of yield.
Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that a hectare of rice field in the Philippines produced about 4.17 metric tons of rice in 2022.
NIA said “part of the palay harvest under the contract farming shall be milled and sold as rice at PHP29/kg at select Kadiwa stores.”
Earlier, Apayao Governor Elias Bulut said there are some areas in his province that were delayed in planting rice due to the dry spell, thus harvest season in the province can last up to October for the second cropping. (PNA)
