The Irrigators’ Association and Federation presidents, along with representatives from various partner agencies, gathered today, March 20,2025 for a Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by the Department of Agriculture 12 at the City of Koronadal.
The event served as a platform for addressing issues and concerns surrounding rice farming in the region, with a special focus on improving the sector’s productivity and ensuring the welfare of the farmers.
In his keynote speech, RED Perales underscored the significance of rice prices in the livelihoods of farmers. He stressed that stabilizing and ensuring fair prices for palay is critical to supporting the agricultural community. “As we aim to enhance the rice program, it is important that we address not just production but also the market aspect, particularly the price of palay. Ensuring fair prices will provide our farmers with the support they need to sustain their livelihood,” RED Perales said. Relative to this, he introduced the Price Protection Program (PPP), a key initiative designed to shield farmers from fluctuating rice prices and ensure that they receive fair compensation for their produce.