Sadanga heirloom rice farmers get P9.47 M grant

By Elvy T. Estacio

SADANGA, Mountain Province -- A P9.47 million heirloom rice consolidation, processing, and marketing enterprise here was launched and turned over July 30, to the Anabel-Sadanga Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ASMPC).
    With this, the ASMPC can now proceed to process and market heirloom rice of farmer-members.
Implemented under the Dept. of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project and provincial local government of     Mountain Province, the enterprise was conceptualized to uplift lives of heirloom rice farmers in Sadanga and develop the local heirloom rice industry.
    The turnover ceremony was led by Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. joined by DA-CAR regional executive director Cameron P. Odsey, PRDP Project Support Office North Luzon deputy project director Elma S. Mananes, Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan, ASMPC BOD chairman Jose Lampesa and manager Ester Rose Chao-angan.
    Also present during the event were ASMPC members, Sadanga and provincial government officials.
    During the program, assistant provincial agriculturist Maryjane S. Tumapang said the enterprise subproject was a partnership between the DA-PRDP, the PLGU and the ASMPC wherein 60 percent of the initial project cost amounting to P9.16 million was funded through World Bank loans, 20 percent from the DA, and 20 percent from the PLGU.
    “The price for the goods increased during the implementation and additional structures need to be constructed for the civil works. Thus, the PLGU and the ASMPC each shelled out more than 20 percent of the total cost as counterpart for the enterprise subproject,” Tumapang added.
    Lacwasan  lauded the staff of the provincial government and the DA-PRDP for their efforts and also the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approving the counterpart fund for this heirloom rice enterprise project.
    “This subproject is an example of a good public-private partnership where the needs of the people are delivered. On the part of the provincial government, we are happy to be a part of this project and we are thankful for allowing us to give service to the community,” said Gov. Lacwasan.
    Deputy project director Mananes said she hoped the project would be a venue for Sadanga farmers to make heirloom rice products available and known in national and international markets.
    “It’s not only the rice, but we are also selling the culture behind the product and I hope that through this project, we will not only introduce the rice but also the people who nurture and produce it,” she added.
    In his message, Odsey emphasized the importance of consultation with the community and the beneficiaries.
    “A project, when consulted properly, will ultimately result to a successful one such as this. This cooperative is a proof of convergence of assistance from various government agencies and the community, a partnership that should be replicated,” he said.
    The launching of the enterprise subproject also included the turnover of the recently completed Heirloom Rice Center that will be used as a consolidation, processing, and marketing facility for the heirloom rice produce of farmers in Sadanga and in some barangays of nearby municipalities. The ASMPC also received a customized rice mill (for specialty rice), a thresher, a hauling truck, and also a trading capital of P424 thousand that was earlier given to them last 2020 that will be used to buy raw materials (dried palay).
    With the upgraded services of the cooperative, ASMPC member Aurelia G. Ginawa from barangay Bikigan, Sadanga said more farmers, especially in the far-off barangays of Sadanga would be served through the enterprise.
     “The facilities will definitely provide more help not only to the heirloom rice farmers, but to their family, to the community,” added Ginawa.