TABUK CITY, KALINGA – Since time immemorial, the renowned Kalinga Unoy red rice, which thrives only in the upland region of the province is tested on lowland farming, for the first time.
The project funded by an Australian non-government organization (NGO) with local tie-up has experimented a 23-hectare lowland farm, planted between June-July for a 6-month cropping period. The harvest is expected to come by December.
Project Manager Brigida Valdez said the project area is distributed into 3 spots in Barangays Magabbangon and Mapaoay, here and in Rizal municipality.
During the planting when the rain came late, workers have to water the entire planting area using a mechanical water-pump as Unoy seeds need a soaked soil.
Valdez revealed a very unconventional farming system introduced by the financier, where the plant is left with the bushes, after it starts to grow.
Valdez said their seeds came from the last harvested upland Unoy in the province.
The Unoy industry heightened after its exportation to Montana USA by the Revitalized Indigenous Cordillera Entrepreneur (RICE) Inc, an NGO with links in the international market.
The last shipment quota made by the RICE, Inc. reached 10 tons and is even expected to increase as the price of the commodity earns better rates in the world market.
Farmers get P80/kilo now from their produce from the P50/kilo starting price three years ago.
This is a breakthrough for the Unoy industry since a new market is in the offing from the Australian financier, who vowed to bring the produce of the first cropping to his hometown, Valdez said.
According to Valdez, this development would effect an improvement in the buying price of Unoy, giving higher margins to farmers.
Unlike the one exported to Montana, which is produced through pure hand pounding, this one is milled by a special machine from Australia to be brought here by the financier, Valdez said.
The machine is designed to maintain the micro-nutrient requirement of the rice and its standard quality for international demand, she said. ***L.Lopez
