NIA pushes contract farming, climate-smart irrigation to future-proof PH rice farming
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is taking bold steps to shield Filipino farmers from market shocks while boosting the country's rice productivity through contract farming, high-tech irrigation, and climate-resilient reforms.
At the center of this push is NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, who outlined a multipronged strategy aimed at achieving food security and farmer profitability—without additional burden on government.
'So far, magda-dalawang taon na po ang programa natin. Maganda naman ang epekto at marami tayong natutulungan,' said Guillen at the Bagong Pilipinas public briefing, referring to NIA's contract farming scheme.
(So far, our program has been running for almost two years. It's delivering good results and helping a lot of farmers.)
Under this program, he said, farmers are assured of a buying price ranging from P21 to P25 per kilo—well above market rates. Eighty percent of their harvest is sold at market price, while 20% is bought at P29 per kilo for buffer stocking.
However, higher buying prices are just one part of the equation. Guillen then stressed the need to empower farmers as full participants in the entire value chain—from planting to processing to marketing.
'Hindi dapat magtapos sa pagbenta ng palay. Sa co-op, kikita rin sila sa milling at distribution. Ibabalik 'yan sa kanila bilang dividends,' Guillen said.
(Profit shouldn't end at selling palay. Through cooperatives, they also earn from milling and distribution. That comes back to them as dividends.)
To do this, NIA is organizing irrigators' associations into one cooperative per town, which are then prioritized by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) for rice processing systems (RPS) and other mechanization support.
'Yung mga maliliit na grupo, dati hindi natutulungan lahat. Pero kung sama-sama, mas madali silang mabigyan ng makinarya,' he said.
(Small farmer groups used to be left behind. But if they're united, it's easier to support them with machinery.)
So far, NIA has helped build over 300 cooperatives and more than 200 rice processing centers nationwide.
To boost yields without waiting for new irrigation facilities, NIA is also changing the way farmers farm—starting with cropping calendars.
'Binago namin ang cropping schedule. October ang tanim, aanihin ng February. March tatanim ulit, aanihin ng July,' Guillen explained.
('We changed the cropping schedule. First planting is in October, harvested in February. The second begins in March and ends in July.)
This system—dubbed double dry cropping—avoids typhoons, ensures more sunlight, and improves yields, especially under irrigated conditions. It also aligns with what NIA calls climate-smart agriculture.
'Kapag maaraw, mas mataas ang yield ng palay. So tataas ang ani, tataas din ang kita,' he said.
(When there's more sun, palay yields go up. So production rises, and income does too.)
Another innovation is the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation technique which, according to the NIA, helps farmers cut water use by up to 30% while improving crop health and root development.
'Kapag binababa mo ang tubig, hinahabol ito ng ugat ng palay. Mas hahaba, mas mahusay ang absorption ng nutrients,' Guillen explained.
(When you lower the water, the rice roots chase it. They grow longer and absorb nutrients better.)
The added bonus? Farmers can earn carbon credits from this method due to lower methane emissions.
'Nakatipid ka na sa tubig, may kita ka pa sa carbon credit. At mas mataas pa ani,' Guillen said.
(You save water, you earn from carbon credits, and your yields improve.)
NIA is also expanding solar-powered irrigation systems, especially in off-grid and upland areas, replacing diesel pumps and slashing farmers' input costs.
'Dati, aabot ng P40,000 hanggang P80,000 ang gastos sa diesel kada ektarya. Ngayon, libre na gamit ang solar,' he said.
(Before, it cost P40,000 to P80,000 per hectare for diesel. Now, with solar, it's free.)
What sets these systems apart is their built-in AI technology, which provides weather forecasts and planting recommendations.
While national programs are in place, Guillen emphasized that local government units (LGUs) hold the key to sustaining these reforms—especially in marketing and land support.
He also called on LGUs to use their National Tax Allotment (NTA) funds to build warehouses and support local cooperatives. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
Marcos state visit to India set next week
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will embark on a five-day state visit to the Republic of India next week. The visit is scheduled from August 4 to 8, upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His first stop will be in New Delhi, and he will proceed to Bangalore for official meetings and events. The President will also meet with the business sector in both cities. Aside from that, Marcos will have a meet and greet activity with the Filipino Community in New Delhi. The Philippines and India are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2025. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
DMW to go after brokers who charge placement fees for OFW jobs in SoKor
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday it would clamp down on brokers who charge Filipino workers with placement fees in exchange for seasonal contract employment in South Korea. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the practice of such brokers has been become widespread over the last four to five years as some Filipinos clients end up paying exorbitant fees, sometimes repaid via loan arrangements, in the hope of getting the jobs. The agency has worked to stop the practice since it took over the regulation of seasonal worker deployment last year, but noted that some of these brokers continue to operate. "Brokers, some of them Korean nationals, roam free and charge our employed workers or provide loans… So-called loans with additional fees involved in those loans, placement fees. Ang nangyayari, apat or limang buwan nang paglalagi ng seasonal worker. [Ang sahod para sa] tatlong buwan, binabayad doon sa broker, (What happens is that the seasonal worker stays for four to five months. Their salary for three months is paid to the broker)," said Cacdac. "Before we came in, talamak 'yung broker system… That practice has stopped, but that's not to say na walang brokers pa rin," he added. (Before we came in, the broker system was prevalent. That practice has stopped, but that's not to say brokers no longer exist.) Cacdac said that before the DMW intervened, seasonal contract worker deployment to South Korea was carried out through agreements made between Philippine Local Government Units (LGUs) and Korean local government units. The DMW immediately came into the picture following the deaths of six OFWs. Since then, the Philippines has deployed 8,000 workers through DMW offices with one case of an OFW death. "About a year ago, we stepped in and imposed an interim moratorium on the program until we allowed deployment through our offices by processing of the OFWs through the DMW. We look at their contracts, ensure that they are insured medically, and the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) membership. Thus far, meron tayong isang case ng nasawi over the last year since we handled the program (Thus far, we've had one case of death over the last year since we handled the program). But we are also braced to sign an interagency memorandum circular with the DILG, DFA, and all the relevant agencies about this matter," Cacdac said, referring to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Foreign Affairs. DMW is handling a total of 25 pending cases against brokers and has assisted the DOJ in filing cases against brokers in Davao and Bulacan. "Mahirap kasi [It's hard because] it's been a practice over the last four or five years. They still think they can roam free, but the most important thing there is we run after them, we crack down on them, and we file cases against them," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
PH debt surpasses P17 trillion in June 2025
The Philippine government's total outstanding debt surpassed the P17-trillion mark in June as the administration issued securities during the month, data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Wednesday showed. The total outstanding debt stood at $17.267 trillion as of end-June, up 2.1% from $16.918 trillion in May, and 11% higher than the $15.483 billion in June 2024. The BTr attributed the increase to 'strong investor demand for government securities,' with $11.950-trilion worth of domestic borrowings during the month—$886.478 billion in treasury bills, and $11.063 trillion in treasury bonds. 'This strategy is consistent with the government's goal to boost the local capital market while lowering foreign exchange risks and building investor trust in Philippine-issued securities,' the BTr said in an accompanying statement. External debt stood at $5.316 trillion, marking a 3.5% increase from the $5.138 trillion in the previous month. This includes $2.602 trillion in loans, and $2.714 trillion in external debt securities. 'The national government's prudent debt management approach strategy reflects the Marcos Jr. administration's commitment to safeguarding fiscal sustainability, supporting inclusive growth, and ensuring that every peso borrowed is used to build a stronger economy for the Filipino people,' the BTr said. — BM, GMA Integrated News
