The City of Manila’s program to give each of its 150,000 senior citizens a pack of the nutritious Black and Red organic rice this Christmas has given Mindanao rice farmers a reason to rejoice.
Yesterday, Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the driving force and pioneering farmers group in organic rice farming, said it will consolidate all production of Black and Red Rice to supply the estimated 500-metric tons needed by the City of Manila.
In my meeting with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday for the MinDA Tienda in Manila, I presented to him the idea of giving the city’s senior citizens packs of Organic Black and Red Rice as Christmas gift.
Mayor Isko liked the proposal saying that it will be a healthy gift for the seniors while helping Mindanao rice farmers.
The area currently planted to organic rice by farmers’ groups belonging to the Mindanao Organic Rice Industry Council (MORICO) is less than 1,000 hectares.
This latest development, however, could spark a glitter of hope for commercial rice farmers reeling from low farm gate prices because of the unimpeded importation of Thai and Vietnam rice.
While the farm gate price of commercial rice ranges from P11 to P14 per kilo, Black and Red organic rice commands a price of P22 or higher.
Modern organic rice farming technology has increased production from 4 metric tons to 6.5 metric tons per hectare, according to Betsy Ruizo Gamela.
Yesterday, the Mindanao Development Authority which organized MORICO last year with the support of USAID started working on a loan package for Mindanao’s Organic Rice Industry.
The loan package includes capitalization for Don Bosco to buy the produce of MORICO member cooperatives and funding support to purchase flatbed dryers, warehouses and hauling trucks.
MinDA will forward the industry loan package proposal to its banking partner, the Development Bank of the Philippines.
This will be a happy Christmas both for the senior citizens of Manila who will get a taste of healthy organic rice and most especially Mindanao’s rice farmers.
For MinDA, this is another proof that even with a measly P172-Million budget, we still could make things happen with very little government expense.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#whenheartbeatsbrainworks!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Photo shows officers of Don Bosco meeting with MinDA officials face-to-face and via Zoom. First two photos show export quality packaging of the Mindanao Black Rice.)
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