Featured News

A NATIONAL network of cooperative has been formed to improve the earnings of rice farmers while giving consumers greater confidence in the rice they purchase.

Organized by Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), the RiceBIS Magsasaka Network (RMN) composed of 50 cooperatives was launched during the recent 37th Ugnay Palay National Rice Research for Development (R4D) Conference, creating a unified brand that links farmer-led enterprises to higher-value markets and promotes safe, traceable, and locally produced rice.

Designed as a farmer-driven initiative, the network helps groups position themselves as agripreneurs involved in processing, branding, quality assurance, and direct marketing of rice and rice-based products.

“By uniting farmer cooperatives under one umbrella, the RMN gives consumers a clear mark of quality — the RMN seal — so they can easily identify rice that is locally sourced and certified safe. This initiative not only helps farmers increase their yields but also connects them to markets that value healthy, premium rice products,” said Dr. Diadem Gonzales-Esmero, lead of the RiceBIS Program, which supports farmer enterprise development.

The network was publicly endorsed through a collective pledge of support by farmer leaders and partner organizations.

Among the participating cooperatives include the Pinagbuklod na Adhika Multipurpose Cooperative, Zaragoza People’s Agriculture Cooperative, Batitang Agriculture Cooperative, Sintorisan-Behia Swisa Farmers Association, Marasat-Dagupan Rice Business Innovations System (BIS) Agriculture Cooperative, and Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative.

The network has also drawn support from institutional buyers and private-sector partners such as Agrea Agricultural Systems International, Megaworld Corporation, and Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District.

Complementing them were program supporters such as the Nutriskwela Radio Broadcasters Association Inc., which will provide promotional support to strengthen the network.

For the farmers, the formation of the network builds on gains already recorded through enterprise development initiatives.

Aileen Galanta, of the Esperanza RiceBIS Producers Cooperative in Agusan del Sur, said their group now supplies around 20,000 bags of certified inbred seeds per cropping season, increasing their revenues from five-digit to six-digit.

Partners received samples of farmer-developed, value-added products, including PhilGAP-certified (GAPproved) rice, pigmented rice, rice brew, brown rice krispies, rice kropek, and glutinous rice. A memorandum of agreement was signed to formalize long-term collaboration among partners.

The event also marked the launch of the “I Love Pilipinong Magsasaka” campaign, encouraging the public to purchase RMN products.

“Each purchase becomes a form of support for FIlipino farmers and for a more progressive rice industry,” said Dr. Hazel Antonio, lead of the RiceBIS Marketing Project.

Since the program market roll out, the RiceBIS initiative has assisted 53 farmer cooperatives and associations, providing more than P140 million in combined support through grants, logistics, facilities, and machinery. Participating groups have recorded a combined income increase exceeding P30 million.

Source : msn