LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – The Rice Terraces Farmers Cooperative (RTFC) indeed has a very good chance of attaining its goal of helping farmers in Banaue, Ifugao register increased yields in 2025 and beyond.
“So far, as I know, the cooperative is on the right track in our program and projects for Banaue’s agriculture sector.” RTFC manager Jimay Lingayo said.
“I would like to thank my staff, members, officers and our hardworking farmers for bringing food security concern to the center of our agenda thus, helping the nation if the government accelerate the nation’s socio-economic projects,” he added.
Credit to the RTFC performance in the first six months of 2025. It’s another stellar track record for this Banaue cooperative. There’s no doubt to this. With its splendid track record, success is here. This signals the 19-year old cooperative’s renewed commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and achieving economic growth in the province; all in the name of food security. If anything, it will generate jobs. The future has suddenly come bustling with bright hope to a province long plagued by the joblessness problem.
There has been a lot of interest in the public and private sector throughout Ifugao on the “success story” of the RTFC. It stands out among the province’s cooperatives because it nurtures the “learning by doing” principle in its operations. Also, it doesn’t take much for members and employees to learn new skills.
Standing proudly on the strategic grounds of Pasnalan, Barangay Poblacion, its main office also serves as the Pasalubong Center, and as you might expect heirloom varieties of rice (such as Mountain Violet, Red Rice, Tinawon White, Tinawon Fancy and Tinawon Diket) are for sale. There is also the amazingly inexpensive Muscovado sugar; good for coffee and chocolate. It is also engaged in buying and selling of heirloom rice as well as rice milling Lingayo personally attended to these chores.
RTFC also operates a trading post at Barangay Hucab in Kiangan and a warehouse and processing center at Barangay Amganad in Banaue. “This cooperative is always finding ways to help the people as it offers a wide range of quality services” farmer Jose Camhit told the ZigZag Weekly.
“Clearly, the cooperative has given a good deal of attention to the needs of the public,” he quipped.
The Rice Terraces Farmers Cooperative will continue to find ongoing usefulness as a non-government organization. In addition, it will remain a strong partner of the government in advancing the common good. Its manager is versatile and resourceful. His mind is surely bursting with ideas on how to build a better and brighter future.
Possibly, it shall even offer world-class red rice in the not so distant future. For now, the RTFC is intensely working to expand production of certain items, one that’s superior-quality and come at very affordable prices.
Expansion of farmers’ cooperative operations is possible, if and only if the national government shall provide additional support and assistance to farmers for them to cope with various challenges- from gaining access to irrigation facilities to ensuring adequate supply of crops. It is a big help in improving their quality of life. The government knows full well that no farmer can feed the people when he himself is not prepared to feed his own family. **By Anthony A. Araos
