The Anabel-Sadanga Multipurpose Cooperative’s (ASMPC) Heirloom Rice Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject is seen to increase farmers’ income in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Under the Enterprise Development (I-REAP) component of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), the ASMPC will soon upgrade their heirloom rice processing venture with the procurement of a rice mill, a hauling truck, and a P426,200 trading capital for the purchase of palay from ASMPC members.
The enterprise has a project cost of P9.16 million funded under the DA-PRDP on a cost-sharing scheme – 60 percent from World Bank loan proceeds, with counterpart funding from the DA (20 percent), provincial government (20 percent), and 20 percent equity from the proponent group.
A processing center will be established in Anabel, Sadanga, which will also serve as a trading center for heirloom rice.
On Sept. 30, Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and Vice Gov. Francis O. Tauli turned over the first tranche amounting to P945,000 to the ASMPC through its manager Ester Rose Chao-angan for the procurement of a rice mill.
Mary Jane S. Tumapang, I-REAP focal person of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit and Provincial Agriculture Office assistant department head, said the amount for the purchase of a rice mill and a vehicle will be given per tranche.
“The amount of P1.8M for the purchase of a hauling truck and palay will soon be given after the rice mill is bought,” said Tumapang.
Lacwasan said the realization of the enterprise subproject will boost the income of local rice farmers. He thanked the DA-CAR and the DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR for the interventions in support to the livelihood activities of farmers in Mountain Province.
He assured the provincial government, as the project’s implementing partner, will continuously support the development of livelihood projects in the province.
Tauli expressed optimism that once the project is completed, more farmers will gain interest in producing heirloom rice and with the PRDP grant, the productivity of the local farmers’ rice produce will increase.
PRDP Business Development Officer Lorna Panyo said the procurement of goods and construction of a processing facility will upgrade the existing heirloom rice processing activities of ASMPC which will directly benefit heirloom rice farmers in Sadanga and its neighboring municipalities. – Erwin S. Batnag
