Manila: The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is urging local government units (LGUs) to assist in distributing Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice to a broader range of Filipino consumers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the BBM rice, priced at PHP29 per kilogram, is sourced from local harvests by farmer cooperatives involved in NIA's contract farming program. This affordable rice is made available to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at selected NIA offices across the nation. NIA is also a supplier for the Department of Agriculture's Rice for All program.

NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, speaking at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, expressed the need for LGUs' involvement, noting the demand among Filipinos to access this rice. He emphasized that LGUs are positioned to facilitate this due to their management of public markets throughout the Philippines. Guillen admitted that NIA is understaffed and that selling rice is not part of its mandate. He proposed that a collaborative setup with LGUs could better serve consumers, involving LGUs entering into memorandums of agreement with cooperatives to ensure affordable rice reaches all public markets.

To date, NIA has successfully distributed at least 2 million kilograms of BBM rice nationwide.

Guillen also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing NIA's national irrigation systems. AI aids in identifying soil distress, determining necessary interventions, selecting appropriate crop varieties and inputs, and optimizing planting schedules. This technology allows NIA to pinpoint problem areas and apply fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides specifically where needed, rather than uniformly across entire production areas.

Previously, NIA advocated for altering the planting calendar to increase local agricultural output and minimize harvest losses caused by typhoons, particularly during September and October.