CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 4A (Calabarzon) has commenced a new rice contract farming initiative in collaboration with an irrigators’ association (IA) in Santa Maria town, Laguna province, that will pave the way for the availability of low-priced rice.
The program will cover 87 hectares of rice fields, aiming for a December harvest. The harvested rice will be sold at Kadiwa outlets for PHP29 per kilogram.
Vince Santoalla, public relations officer of NIA 4A, said in a phone interview on Wednesday that this contract farming project, managed by the NIA Laguna-Rizal Irrigation Management Office (LRIMO), is the last rice contract farming initiative in Calabarzon for the year.
According to Santoalla, the 87 hectares of rice fields owned by the SANTAMASI IA will be supported by the Santa Maria River Irrigation System (RIS), benefiting 46 farmers who formalized the agreement with their office on Aug. 13.
Under the memorandum of agreement (MOA), NIA will provide PHP50,000 per hectare to cover initial farm inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation. The goal is to enhance yields by ensuring the proper utilization of these resources.
Land preparation is already underway, with planting expected to start soon.
“NIA supports the farmers throughout the entire process, from planting to selling, with a guaranteed income as the agency will purchase their produce,” Santoalla said. (PNA)