Following the launch of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka rice program in Negros Oriental this week, the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration started selling locally-produced rice at P29 per kilo in Sibulan town.
Alejandro Rafal, newly- appointed assistant regional director for operations & extension of the DA-Negros Island Region, said 500 of 50-kilo bags of rice were sold to the vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, 4Ps beneficiaries, solo parents, and indigents, with a limit of up to 10 kilos each.
Rafal noted that the rice supply for the launch was sourced from Bayawan City, Siaton, and Ayungon, and future activities will rely on locally-produced rice through NIA-identified suppliers, with local farmers currently harvesting their crops.
He also highlighted NIA’s new contract farming initiative, where selected farmers receive P50,000 per hectare to support production.
These farmers will return a portion of their harvest valued at the same amount to NIA, while keeping any excess as their profit. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
