Support the Pinoy Farmers
Sep 15, 2019 • 2 min Read
RA 11203 also known as the Philippine Rice Tarification Law directly affects an estimated 10 million Filipino farmers and other workers in allied industries. The impact to the Pinoy farmers raised social awareness that led to creation of volunteer groups.
The Helping Local Farmers is one of the volunteer groups that has now evolved into a movement known as Rice Pinas. Its fundamental aspiration is to help the farmers sell directly to the consumers, educate the consumers on the plight of the Pinoy farmers, and establish capacity building engagements for the farmers.
Rice Pinas helps organize local rice farmers for opportunities through events and connections. These will enable the farmers sell their produce at fair prices in both the online and on-ground platforms. Rice Pinas is not a Farm to Table Sales Platform. However, it vets and evaluates the sales platforms that may truly help and empower the farmers.
Presently, Session Groceries has established relationship with the Mindoro Farmers and the scheduled first Metro Manila Drop is on September 28, 2019. Hereunder are the details:
PRE-SELLING via SESSION GROCERIES APP
All pre-orders for the First Drop on September 28 from the farmers of Mindoro can now be placed via Session Groceries. Both the Mindoro Farmers AND Session Groceries are taking a risk to transport their milled rice to Manila hoping there is a market who will buy from them. Session Groceries stayed with these farmers for 3 weeks, convincing them to try selling straight to Manila Consumers who may possibly buy their harvest at a fair price. It is a risky but viable option vs going through their normal route (traders, and the like). The farmers took their chance and put their trust on Session Groceries.
FIRST DROP- SEPTEMBER 28 at Mercato BGC
Mindoro Farmers will travel along with their milled rice for more than 10 hours (via Roro from Mindoro) to come to an unchartered territory as Manila. They are not used to this. This is unimaginable for them. Let us all show up, rain or shine, to meet the farmers, look at them in the eyes and say it’s going to be okay. We are here.
POP UP MARKETS
We have reached out to weekend markets to provide a venue for the farmers to be able to sell weekly.
· BGC Mercato— Approved
· Salcedo Village – Pending approval
· Legaspi Village – Pending approval
REGULAR VOLUME BUYS
Restaurants, Companies, Canteens, etc
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
1. Consume locally produced rice.
2. Buy your rice from local vendors at weekend markets.
3. Inform us on restaurants, companies, canteens, village associations, schools who can buy in bulk and sustain the farmer-direct consumer system
4. Share rice crisis solutions post on your social media
5. Be a volunteer of Rice Pinas movement.
6. Enroll your friends to do the same.
Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2419624308314040&id=100007994838566&sfnsn=mo
