LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET - More than 120 farmer-irrigators gathered at the NIA grounds in Brgy. Wangal for the 32nd General Assembly of the Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators' Associations (BFFIA) on February 24, 2023.
President of the National Confederation of Irrigators' Association (NCIA), who is also the Vice Governor of Apayao, Hon. Remy Albano, urged the formation of the IAs into cooperatives so as to be able to open more opportunities for farmers' groups to enter into contracts and agreements with government and private organizations to promote sustainable livelihood and business of farmers.
According to Grace Fanged, Division Manager for Administrative and Finance of NIA-CAR, also said that NIA Acting Administrator Eddie Guillen is pushing for farmers associations to be become cooperatives as this gives them the capability to form the main part of whole value chain yourselves, from production to processing to marketing.
With this goal of turning IAs into cooperatives, the NCIA has committed to assist NIA in determining the necessary data to be gathered from the farmers, as well in the orientation of farmers/IAs in organizing municipal/city level IA service coops until the registration of these IA cooperatives to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
According to Atty. Eric John Dilag of the Cooperative Development Authority-CAR, associations that are registered with the CDA as cooperatives enjoy privileges of being able to legally engage in business with tax exemption and the advantage of being prioritized in government procurement.
Meanwhile, Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan congratulated the BFFIA in their programs and projects such as the tie-up with the BJMP in supplying vegetables to the different district jails in Benguet.
Juan then urged the irrigators’ associations to observe Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), among which is organic agriculture. She said that being an association that is GAP certified helps in having sustainable and quality produce and will help them in meeting the criteria in availing of the programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture.
Photo Caption: President of the National Confederation of Irrigators' Association (NCIA), who is also the Vice Governor of Apayao, Hon. Remy Albano, urged the formation of the IAs into cooperatives so as to be able to open more opportunities for farmers' groups to enter into contracts and agreements with government and private organizations to promote sustainable livelihood and business of farmers during the Benguet Farmers Federation of Irrigators’ Associations 32nd General Assembly on February 24, 2023.