FLORA, Apayao – Seven farmers from Lagac, Santa Maria, Flora will benefit from contract farming after the Maria Irrigators Association (SMIA) was selected by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as beneficiaries this cropping season.
The association began harvesting their palay produce on August 28,2024 and part of the palay yield from contract farming will be sold at PhP29/kg in select Kadiwa outlets.
As of September 5, 2024, around 6.5 hectares under contract farming owned by members of the SMIA were already harvested.
The NIA’s Contract Farming Program aims to provide benefits to farmers who utilize irrigation systems administered by the agency. By permitting agreements between farmers and NIA, the program intends to develop a more predictable and secure agricultural production environment.
Contract-farming is a production and marketing/procurement system wherein producers agree to grow a crop (produce) at a pre-agreed market price for procurement by another party, usually a public or private company/corporation.
This year, there were 9 irrigators’ associations which signed up for the contract farming program with NIA-Apayao Irrigation Management with a total of 250 hectares cultivated.
Follow the website of NIA- Apayao for updates on the scheduling and location of Kadiwa and Murang Bigas sa NIA @ PhP29/kg priority to the vulnerable sectors, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs), and solo parents. By Michelle Acantilado
