The Rice Up Kadiwa Bagsakan Center provides more income to local farmers and cheaper cost to rice buyers, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee, said Sunday.
Due to this, Villar encouraged more Kadiwa Bagsakan Centers, which were born out of the partnership of Rice Up Farmers Inc. and local governments.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Rice Up Kadiwa Bagsakan Centers in Floridablanca, Pampanga led by Mayor Darwin Manalansan, Villar commended their efforts for the rice program.
She also acknowledged the important role of farmers in agriculture, to ensure that every Filipino has food to eat on their tables and to help in the country’s food sufficiency and sustainability.
“Our farmers belong to the country’s heroes, so they serve as my inspiration in my job as a senator,” noted Villar.
“This initiative of the Rice Up Farmers and local government unit is commendable to afford more gains to more than 400 farmer-beneficiaries in Pampanga,” said the senator, who has been crafting measures to continuously spur agricultural growth and improve lives of Filipino farmers.
Villar has also been launching programs to better equip our farmers with modern technology to increase their harvest that would result to abundant rice supply and its cheaper cost.
“This is the right model wherein farmers have greater role to play in our agricultural value chain,” she added.
Without the trader in-between, Villar said, the bringing of their products to “bagsakan” (food depots) would mean higher income for them and lower price of rice for the consuming public.
“In return, she emphasized this would give additional earnings to farmers. They can also compare the price of their products with the other farmers to make them competitive,” she related.
The Bagsakan Center, Villar said, is indeed a big help to farmers and their consumers, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I wish to thank the Rice Up Farmers Inc. for your guidance to your farmer-members. The role you play is the key to accelerate an equal development for our farmers,” added Villar.