400 Iloilo farmers trained on rice grains classification

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.
By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, May 9 -- Four hundred farmers in Iloilo province have been trained on how to classify rice grains that would pass the standard of the National Food Authority (NFA).

Series of training workshops was conducted by NFA-6 in partnership with NFA-Iloilo field office this year to officials of farmer’s cooperatives and organizations in the province themed “Sa Kalidad may Oportunidad.”

NFA- 6 regional director Rex Estoperez on Tuesday said that the training equipped farmers on the process of NFA in classifying their rice grains. It also helped farmers determine the quality of rice grains that are acceptable to the NFA.

Estoperez said their buffer stocks last for about a year so they had to assure that rice stored in their warehouses were of good quality. Rice grains with quality issue are being rejected by the NFA.

He stressed that delivering good quality of rice grains would not only benefit them but it would provide farmers a better income because they command a higher price.

While the series of training was only conducted to farmers in Iloilo, Estoperez said they would replicate the training to other provinces with high rice production like Antique and Capiz.

He said they would conduct training in other provinces before harvest time in September this year.

Apart from rice grain classification, Estoperez said that they also planning to conduct series of training on entrepreneurship.

“We want to provide them entrepreneurial training so they will be trained on finding a better market with good sales opportunity for their rice. The farmers would really enjoy if they have a better market,” he added.