SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — For more than three decades now, the Nueva Ecija Seed Grower Multipurpose Cooperative (NESGMPC) has been a key contributor to strengthening the country’s food security by producing high-quality inbred rice seeds, while also providing a stable and reliable source of livelihood for local farmers.
Today, NESGMPC is composed of 78 active members who collectively produce up to 350,500 bags of certified inbred seeds annually, supplying Regions I, III, IV-A, V, VI, and VIII, and even reaching as far as Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Sur, and South Cotabato.
Fueling this success is the strong partnership with LANDBANK, whose credit facilities enable the cooperative to promptly pay its members for their seeds—ensuring local farmers have a ready market and dependable income.
From Masagana 99 to a thriving cooperative
NESGMPC traces its roots to the government’s Masagana 99 Program, a rice production initiative launched in the 1970s to help farmers increase yields and achieve rice self-sufficiency. During this period, the Maligaya Rice Research and Training Center encouraged local farmers to organize and meet the growing demand for certified seeds.
What began as a small group seeking a more stable livelihood formalized into NESGMPC in 1992, earning the trust of farmers and partner agencies as one of Nueva Ecija’s most respected seed producers.
From the brink to breakthrough
NESGMPC’s journey was not without challenges. In 2014, the co-op faced a financial crisis with no procurement projects and only one staff member remaining. “Halos wala na kami noon, and we were barely surviving,” recalled Acting General Manager Fidel C. Patricio.
Determined to save the cooperative, the new management worked without honoraria, even covering expenses from their own pockets. They rebuilt trust, restructured systems, and seized every opportunity to revive operations.
A turning point came when the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 8 urgently needed 10,000 bags of certified seeds for areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda. Despite limited resources, NESGMPC’s delivered—marking the start of its steady rise.
LANDBANK: A partner in recovery and expansion
As NESGMPC regained momentum, LANDBANK became one of its key pillars of support. Through expanding credit lines, the Bank enabled the cooperative to buy seeds from its members and pay them early, giving farmers the liquidity to grow their operations.
“Kung wala ang LANDBANK, hindi namin mararating ang ganito,” said Patricio. Beyond financing, LANDBANK also provided training in accounting, financial management, and cooperative strengthening—helping NESGMPC modernize and expand across regions.
From a modest credit line, NESGMPC now enjoys up to ₱100 million in financing, enabling it to consistently meet national rice program requirements and maintain timely payments to its members.
Changing lives through seed growing
The co-op’s revival transformed lives. One inspiring story is Jeremias A. Geranta, a former medical technologist who found pride and purpose as a seed grower. Rising expenses pushed him to farming, and joining NESGMPC allowed him to provide for his family, expand his 2-hectare farmland, and even establish two gasoline stations and several small businesses.
“Dito ko napatunayan na ‘yung pagiging isang magsasaka, particularly yung isang seed grower, ay napakagandang trabaho. Hindi lang dahil maganda ang kita, kundi nakakatulong din sa ating kapwa mamayang Pilipino,” Geranta shared.
Growing beyond the fields
Today, NESGMPC stands far from its 2014 struggles. With stronger governance, expanding markets, and solid institutional support, the cooperative continues to strengthen its role in national rice production. It aims to mechanize more processes, boost efficiency, and maintain the high quality of its certified seeds—while uplifting more farmers and ensuring Filipino communities have access to seeds for a stable harvest.
“Habang ang Pilipino ay kumakain ng bigas, nakikita ko ang kahalagahan pa rin ng pagbibinhi. Dahil kung walang magandang binhi, walang magandang itatanim ang ating mga magsasaka,” Patricio said.
In recognition of its valuable contribution to nation-building, NESGMPC was honored with a LANDBANK award as the Outstanding Agri-Based Cooperative under the Gawad PITAK (Pinakatanging Kooperatiba) Large Category during the inaugural Gawad TANYAG (Tanging Yaman at Galing) Awards, held in celebration of the Bank’s 62nd anniversary in 2025.
