The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is reaching out to local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines to expand the reach of Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice, priced at PHP29 per kilogram. This initiative aims to make the affordable rice more accessible to Filipino consumers, particularly to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The rice is sourced from local farmer cooperatives participating in NIA’s contract farming program.
NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen emphasized the need for LGUs’ involvement during a recent briefing, noting that public markets, managed by LGUs, are crucial for wider distribution. Guillen suggested that LGUs could enter into memorandums of agreement with cooperatives to ensure that cheaper rice reaches all public markets nationwide. This approach would help overcome the NIA’s staffing limitations and align with their primary functions.
To date, the NIA has successfully sold over 2 million kilograms of BBM rice across the country. Additionally, the NIA supports the Department of Agriculture’s Rice for All program, further extending the reach of affordable rice.
In a related development, Guillen highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing NIA’s irrigation systems. AI assists in pinpointing soil issues, determining necessary interventions, selecting appropriate crop varieties and inputs, and optimizing planting schedules. This targeted approach allows for more efficient use of resources like fertilizers and pesticides, only in areas where they are needed, thereby improving overall agricultural productivity.
The NIA has also advocated for adjustments to the planting calendar to increase local production and minimize losses from typhoons during the September to October period.