Akeanon Rice Now Available in the Market

NUMANCIA, Aklan- The rice that is proudly farmed, harvested and milled in the province of Aklan is now available in the market, in the hope that Aklan will become a rice-sufficient province.

Arnulfo Magcope, General Manager of the Integrated Barangays of Numancia Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IBON-MPC), here said they named the Akeanon rice variety as Coop Rice.

“We plan to produce around 25,000 bags of 50 kilos each to supply the needed demand for rice for both Akeanons and tourists on Boracay Island,” Magcope told the Boracay Island News Network.

Magcope said the Coop Rice is milled by Akeanon farmers who are members of the (IBON-MPC) utilizing modern technology and farm machinery approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“COOP Rice is a product of the collaborative efforts of the DA, Aklan Provincial Government, and the IBON-MPC,” he added.

For years, the IBON-MOC has been a multi-awarded agriculture cooperative, receiving a grant from the Rice Processing Center 2. This consisted of the rice mill, re-circulating dryers, and operating capital for palay buying.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also provided funding for the project in order to engage farmers in a series of training sessions with the help of the DA-Agricultural Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD). ”

The product name COOP Rice was carefully considered from various choices. The product represents the Coop’s project dubbed as ‘Social Enterprise on Rice Farming’, a milestone of IBON-MPC.(wd reports from Vicmae Macavinta)