The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is reaching out to local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines to broaden the distribution 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, noting that public markets, which are managed by these local units, are crucial for reaching a wider audience. Guillen stated, “I want to seek the assistance of our local government units because I’ve seen the eagerness of our fellow Filipinos to purchase this rice. The public markets throughout the Philippines are under the jurisdiction of our LGUs.” He also mentioned that NIA lacks the manpower to sell the rice directly, as it is not part of their primary mandate.
Guillen proposed that LGUs could enter into memorandums of agreement (MOAs) with cooperatives to ensure that affordable rice reaches all public markets. To date, NIA has successfully sold over 2 million kilograms of BBM rice nationwide.
In addition to expanding rice distribution, 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. “We can quickly identify where the problems are. Then, we can apply fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides only in those specific areas, not across the entire field. This is the advantage that AI brings to us,” Guillen explained.
Previously, NIA advocated for adjustments in the planting calendar to increase local production and minimize losses from typhoons during the September to October period.