For more than three decades, the Nueva Ecija Seed Grower Multipurpose Cooperative (NESGMPC) has quietly played a critical role in strengthening the country’s food security, producing high-quality inbred rice seeds while providing a steady and reliable livelihood for farmers in one of the Philippines’ top rice-producing provinces.
From its base in Nueva Ecija, the cooperative now counts 78 active members who collectively produce up to 350,500 bags of certified inbred rice seeds every year. These seeds supply Regions I, III, IV-A, V, VI, and VIII, with distribution extending as far as Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Sur, and South Cotabato—underscoring the cooperative’s growing national footprint.
Behind this scale is a carefully built system that ensures both quality and sustainability. A crucial part of that system is NESGMPC’s long-standing partnership with LANDBANK, whose credit facilities allow the cooperative to pay members promptly for their produce—giving farmers a ready market and predictable income.
A trusted seed producer
NESGMPC traces its origins to the government’s Masagana 99 Program in the late 1970s, which promoted higher rice yields and national self-sufficiency. During this period, the Maligaya Rice Research and Training Center encouraged farmers in Nueva Ecija to organize and meet the rising demand for certified rice seeds.
Formally registered in 1992, NESGMPC grew from a small group of farmers into one of Nueva Ecija’s reliable seed producers, earning the trust of farmers, government agencies, and institutional buyers.
That momentum stalled in 2014, when the cooperative neared collapse. With no procurement projects and only one remaining staff member, operations were barely sustained.
“We were almost gone,” said acting general manager Fidel C. Patricio. “There were no projects and very limited resources. We were just trying to keep the cooperative alive.”
The new management pressed on without honoraria and, at times, covered operating expenses out of pocket, focusing on restoring credibility, fixing internal systems, and pursuing every opportunity to rebuild.
The turnaround came after Typhoon Yolanda, when the Department of Agriculture Region 8 urgently needed 10,000 bags of certified rice seeds. Despite limited capacity, NESGMPC delivered—marking a key step in the cooperative’s recovery.
LANDBANK as a pillar of growth
As NESGMPC regained momentum, LANDBANK emerged as a critical partner in its recovery and expansion – providing expanded credit lines, enabling the cooperative to buy seeds from its members and pay them ahead of schedule, and providing farmers with much-needed liquidity to sustain and scale their operations.
“LANDBANK played a decisive role in our turnaround. At a time when we were rebuilding trust and capacity, the Bank gave us access to financing that allowed us to support our members and operate with confidence. Without that support, we would not have reached this level,” said acting general manager Fidel C. Patricio.
LANDBANK also extended capacity-building support, including training in accounting, financial management, and cooperative governance. The interventions helped NESGMPC modernize its systems and gradually expand its operations beyond its original areas.
From an initial modest credit facility, the cooperative now has access to up to P100 million in financing—enabling it to consistently meet the requirements of national rice programs while ensuring timely and reliable payments to its members.
The cooperative’s recovery has translated into tangible gains for individual farmers. One such case is Jeremias A. Geranta, a former medical technologist who shifted to farming as rising living costs strained his household finances.
Through NESGMPC, Geranta found both stability and opportunity. From managing a two-hectare farm, he was able to expand his agricultural activities and later establish two gasoline stations alongside several small businesses.
Today, NESGMPC is far removed from its struggles a decade ago. With stronger governance, broader markets, and solid institutional support, the cooperative continues to deepen its contribution to national rice production.
“As long as Filipinos continue to eat rice, the importance of seed production will remain clear. Without good seeds, farmers will not have quality crops to plant,” Patricio said.
In recognition of its contribution to agriculture and nation-building, NESGMPC was named Outstanding Agri-Based Cooperative under the Gawad PITAK Large Category during the inaugural Gawad TANYAG Awards, held in celebration of LANDBANK’s 62nd anniversary in 2025.
