Nueva Ecija rice farmers who are grateful to President Rody Duterte for the support they received through Free Irrigation and the policy of not allowing rice importation during peak harvest season, have passed the hat among them to raise a decent amount which they said they would like to give to Lanao del Sur and Marawi City farmers affected by the conflict.
Yesterday, when I reported to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) office in Quezon City after a 10-day absence because of the FAO conference in Rome, Italy, Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan turned over to me a brown envelope with a letter signed by chairmen of four farmers cooperatives attached to it.
The letter signed by Rolando Maniquis, Emma Paras, Leonardo Manayao, Wilson Manabat and Rolando Garcia, all presidents of farmers cooperatives in Nueva Ecija, said they agreed to give little amounts to contribute to the rehabilitation of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur.
“Kami na maliliit na asosasyon ng magsasaka ay nagkaisa upang magbigay ng kaunting halaga bilang tulong sa pagbangon ng Marawi. Dalangin namin na maisagawa ito sa lalong madaling panahon sa tulong at awa ng Diyos na Maykapal,” the letter said.
Nueva Ecija rice farmers were among those who benefited greatly from the reforms implemented by President Duterte in the rice farming sector which included Free Irrigation starting 2017 and the ban on the importation of rice during peak harvest season.
The Free Irrigation policy of the Duterte administration has saved farmers at least P3,000 per hectare per harvest season.
The policy not to allow importation during peak harvest season of local rice production announced by President Duterte in Talavera, Nueva Ecija on April 5, protected rice farmers from price manipulation which in the past saw buying prices plummeting from as high as P20 per kilo during off harvest season to only about P12 per kilo at peak harvest.
Traders have always used the arrival of imported rice as the reason why they had to reduce the buying price of local rice produced by Filipino farmers.
In the last harvest, buying prices of a kilo of freshly harvested rice remained at a low of P18 to a high P24.
The Agriculture Department estimated that because of the stable buying price, Filipino farmers all over the country earned an additional P20-B during the last harvest season.
Today, I will turn over to President Duterte the modest contribution of the farmers from Nueva Ecija which is their way of showing to the Duterte Administration their gratefulness to the support they received from government.
This is the first time in the history of the Philippine rice industry, where farmers used to depend on dole-outs and subsidies from government in the past, that farmers are sharing the blessings they received.
For the first time, the farmers say they feel they are loved and supported by government.
Indeed, love begets love.
(Photos of President Duterte with top agriculture officials taken during the harvest festival in Talavera, Nueva Ecija on April 5. Other photos show the letter signed by presidents of farmers associations in Nueva Ecija and the brown envelope containing an undetermined amount which they donated voluntarily to their fellow farmers in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur.)
More Stories
Breeding Season Starts!
Practical Tips On Cattle Feeding!
Bamboo Goat House Model Now Ready For Occupancy!