The Sikat Saka I and II Program offers a direct credit window from LANDBANK and integrated support from the Department of Agriculture to small palay and corn farmers to improve their creditworthiness and the viability of crop production.
PROGRAM PARTNERS AND THEIR BASIC ROLES
• Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) – provides support funds and conducts evaluation
• National Food Authority (NFA) – provides market for palay
• National Irrigation Administration (NIA) – identifies, mobilizes and guides Irrigators Associations (IAs) to become credit consolidators
• Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) – provides extension and training services on organizational strengthening, including financial management and credit discipline to small farmers
• Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation – provides insurance coverage for loans under the program
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
• Palay Production
• Corn Production
ELIGIBLE BORROWERS
• Small palay and corn farmers in irrigated lands including those registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA)
ELIGIBLE CRITERIA
A. For Service Conduits
1. Irrigators Association
• Must be in good standing as certified by NIA or Municipal Agriculturist if the IA is supervised by the LGU
2. Small Water Impounding System Association (SWISA)
• Must be in good standing as certified by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM)
B. For Small Palay Farmers
• Owns or tills at least ½ hectare of irrigated rice land but not to exceed 5 hectares*
• A member in good standing of an Irrigators Association (IA) or Small Water Impounding System Association (SWISA)
• Has no outstanding loan for palay production purposes with LANDBANK and other financing institutions at the time of loan application
• Attended a seminar on financial education or any similar training to be conducted by ATI
*with a title or other properties/assets acceptable to LANDBANK for
safekeeping.
OTHER FEATURES
• Incentives are given to Irrigators Associations that provide administrative support to small palay farmers-borrowers provided that their loans are paid on time and at least 90% collection fee is achieved
• Farmers-beneficiaries are required to open their respective LANDBANK DA Sikat Saka ATM accounts