SL Agritech, ARMM tie up to help Marawi farmers

The country’s leading hybrid rice producer SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) will partner with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to develop a 50-hectare model farm in war-torn Marawi to fast-track rehabilitation efforts and provide livelihood to farmers.

Agriculturists from both parties are now identifying areas for the planned farm in Marawi, the biggest city in Lanao del Sur, which was recently freed from the hands of terrorists.

The farm may require a production cost of around P30,000 per hectare, or a total of P1.5 million to develop.

“We want to bring the message to the people of Marawi that there’s hope. SL Agritech will put in the money for this techno-demo to inspire,” SLAC chair Henry Lim Bon Liong said in a statement.

Hybrid rice planting would be carried out by SLAC in coordination with nonprofit organization Go Negosyo and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Despite Marawi’s predominantly cooler weather due to its higher elevation which makes it harder for farmers to gain access to sufficient irrigation supply, SLAC said it would be providing technical and financial assistance to the farmers.

In addition, technical experts would be sent to the field to educate farmers on proper farm management while helping them achieve good yields.

Seeds and fertilizers would also be provided for free. Farmers would also be linked to markets willing to buy their produce.

“It is not much of a rice farming location, but there are farmers growing traditional rice varieties in the area,” the statement read.

“The company sees its role in Marawi’s rehabilitation as an expansion of an earlier agricultural investment in likewise conflict-affected Maguindanao where it also put up a model farm.”

SLAC director Frisco Malabanan said seed planting would start late November to December this year, given that the climate during the dry season was conducive to growing hybrid seeds.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) earlier said Marawi required a tremendous amount of about P150 billion to recover from the ravages of war.