Credit assistance for rice farmers launched

KORONADAL City — Amyon Irrigators’ Association based in Tulunan, North Cotabato have received more than P300,000 fund that its members could use to boost their rice production.

This, according to information from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-12, is line with the pilot implementation of Sikat Saka program recently launched by the DA in partnership with the LandBank of the Philippines (LBP).

Sikat Saka, DA 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag- Datukan explained, is an agricultural credit assistance program intended to help increase production of rice farmers.
It is being implemented also in accordance with the DA’s Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP). Access to credit is provided through irrigator’s associations.

Information on the program provided by DA-Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division (RAFID) indicated that a farmer can avail of loan of P42,000 per hectare for hybrid rice production and P37,000 per hectare for inbred rice production.
Besides Amyon Irrigators’ Association, four more IAs are scheduled for release of their credit assistance, pending submission of final documents. They will receive a total of P2,776,850 assistance.

These IAs and the amount of credit assistance that shall be released for their members are: Milaris Division A (BIMADU) IA, Inc. in Bialong, M’lang (P 218, 300); Buayan-Langkong IA Inc. in Buayan, Mlang (P 1, 300, 550); Rangaban IA, Inc. in Rangaban, Midsayap (P 481, 000); Libungan B – 1B IA, Inc. in Bulucaon, Libungan (P777, 000).
Six more IAs have already passed evaluation and are now preparing requirements for their members’ credit assistance.

More than P6 million are expected to be released in the first month of implementation of the project.

National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, Agricultural Training Institute at Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation assist DA and LBP in the implementation of the Sikat Saka program.

In Region 12, Sikat Saka is initially implemented in North Cotabato as pilot area. The program is also being piloted in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Iloilo and Isabela.
Farmers in North Cotabato who are interested to avail of such credit assistance may coordinate with their irrigators’ association, nearest LBP branch, as well as offices of NIA or NFA.

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