Photo courtesy of NIA-8
A farmer’s federation in Ormoc City is expanding its rice trading operations with Php 1.2 million in livelihood support from the National Irrigation Administration in Eastern Visayas.
The funding would provide additional capital to 2,259 farmers belonging to six irrigators’ agriculture cooperatives. Together, the members cultivate about 2,482 hectares of rice farms.
The assistance comes as the federation prepares to fulfill a major supply deal with the Ormoc City government. Through the Sagip Saka Act, the group secured a contract to deliver 37,311 sacks of rice at Php 500 for each 10-kilogram sack.
The agreement is valued at approximately Php 18.6 million, providing the farmers with a government market for their rice while strengthening the federation’s trading operation.
NIA Eastern Visayas institutional development section chief Karen Mades said the agency has been broadening its assistance to irrigators by helping their organizations establish income-generating ventures, rather than limiting support to irrigation facilities and related training.
The Php 1.2-million assistance was released through the Irrigation Management Transfer Support Services program. Before approving the project, NIA reviewed the federation’s feasibility study and conducted a field assessment, with monitoring set to continue as the venture progresses.
Similar assistance has reached other farmers’ organizations across Eastern Visayas since February. NIA reported that its regional office had released more than Php 13 million for livelihood projects during the period.
Those investments have supported businesses involving livestock, agricultural supplies, farm machinery, lending, rice retailing, coconut products and other enterprises. NIA said the broader approach is intended to help irrigators build sustainable sources of income alongside their role in operating and maintaining irrigation systems.