NIA Caraga livelihood aid helps Agusan Norte farmers cope with El Niño
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Farmers in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte are gaining additional source of income, while helping cushion the effects of El Niño and prolonged dry spells through a government-supported livelihood enterprise established by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga.
The initiative enables members of the Kasilac-Talo-ao Irrigators Association, Inc. (IA) to engage in palay buying and milled-rice selling, providing an alternative income stream when climate-related challenges and water shortages threaten farm productivity and harvest earnings.
The intervention complements the national government’s efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen food security, protect agricultural livelihoods, and build climate-resilient communities. By extending support beyond irrigation services, the initiative helps farmers diversify their income sources and become better prepared for disruptions in agricultural production.
On January 29, 2025, NIA Caraga provided the association with an initial livelihood assistance of P150,000 to establish its palay-buying and milled-rice-selling enterprise. On September 22, 2026, the agency extended an additional P150,000 to strengthen its operations, bringing the total livelihood assistance to P300,000.
Under the leadership of IA President Samuel N. Alcover, the association purchases palay from its members, processes it into milled rice, and develops market opportunities for their produce. This arrangement allows farmers to participate in a collective enterprise that can generate supplementary income alongside their regular farming activities.
Alcover expressed his gratitude to NIA Caraga and the national government for the assistance, which provides the association with an opportunity to strengthen its livelihood and help its members cope with the financial challenges brought about by unpredictable weather and potential crop losses.
He also recognized the importance of the association’s collective efforts in managing the enterprise responsibly to ensure that the government assistance continues to benefit members and support their families’ needs.
To help sustain the initiative, the association established three marketing agreements with demand partners through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). The local government of Buenavista also supported the enterprise by allowing the association to display and sell its milled rice at the agribusiness center within the Municipal Agriculture Office.
The initiative is expected to benefit 150 association members, composed of 53 women and 97 men, by improving market access, creating supplementary income opportunities, and strengthening the association’s organizational and financial capacity.
For farming families, the value of this government intervention extends beyond the financial assistance. When El Niño, prolonged dry spells, or insufficient water supply affect planting schedules and harvests, an additional livelihood can help reduce dependence on a single source of income. The enterprise also creates a more organized channel for marketing palay and milled rice, helping members capture opportunities along the agricultural value chain.
NIA Caraga Regional Manager Ruby C. Tuan Jr. continues to support initiatives that complement irrigation services with livelihood assistance and market partnerships, recognizing the importance of strengthening farmers’ capacity to manage agricultural and economic risks.
Through this initiative, NIA Caraga demonstrates how government interventions can address farmers’ needs beyond farm production by linking irrigation, livelihood development, and market access. By helping irrigators’ associations establish income-generating activities, the agency contributes to more resilient farming communities, stronger household livelihoods, and sustained local food production.
Beyond delivering water to farmlands, government support also means helping farmers prepare for climate-related challenges, protect their sources of income, and build a more secure future for their families. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte with a report from NIA Caraga)
