The Bicol-Nueva Ecija rice connection

Guimba, Nueva Ecija – In the vast plains of Guimba, under the scorching heat of the summer sun, rice farmers from Libmanan, Camarines Sur keenly observed their counterparts in Nueva Ecija as they begin the delicate process of transplanting palay. This moment was valuable to the learning exchange, which had started a year earlier when the Guimba farmers traveled to Bicol to learn about rice processing center management.  

On June 24, traveling 500 kilometers in a 13-hour ride, the officers and staff of the Oragon Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (OFAC) visited Guimba’s farms and the newly-installed rice processing center (RPC) run by the Cooperative Enterprise for True Economic Reform (CENTER). This visit was part of  a “lakbay-aral”, a learning tour facilitated by the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF). 

Led by Fr. Granwell “Dawe” Pitapit, CEO of OFAC and a member of PEF General Assembly,  the group explored modern rice farming practices in Guimba. Nueva Ecija, known as the rice granary of the Philippines, produces the highest rice yield in the country. The visit included a tour of the RPC, where CENTER  shared their experiences in setting up the facility, including their partnership with the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

“CENTER has been very welcoming during this learning exchange. We are also grateful to PEF for fostering this partnership,” Fr. Pitapit said. 

OFAC has expressed strong interest in returning to Guimba for further study of CENTER’s rice farming techniques. In turn, CENTER is seeking technical consultations from OFAC once their RPC is fully operational. 

###