LANDBANK, NIA scale up farm financing in irrigated areas

Farmers in irrigated areas across the country are gaining greater access to affordable financing and support services as LANDBANK and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) partner to scale up agricultural productivity and financial inclusion.

Building on their long-standing partnership, LANDBANK and NIA have formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on 11 June 2026 at LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. The agreement aims to expand financing opportunities, enhance farm productivity, and support food security in irrigated areas by delivering coordinated, targeted support to farming communities nationwide.

The signing was led by LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, with LANDBANK First Vice President Eden B. Japitana and NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan serving as witnesses.

“By bringing together irrigation and financing, we align two critical requirements for stronger farm performance. With NIA’s extensive network on the ground and LANDBANK’s development financing, we are in a better position to support our farmers as they move forward with greater confidence,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

Under the agreement, NIA will mobilize eligible farmer groups — including Irrigators’ Associations (IAs), Federations of Irrigators’ Associations (FIAs), Irrigators Service Cooperatives (ISCs), and their members — while LANDBANK will provide financing and credit administration under the Agrisenso Plus Lending Program.

“Together, LANDBANK and NIA are unlocking vital opportunities to deliver adequate, affordable, accessible, and timely support to our farmers. By empowering the whole agricultural value chain, we catalyze an economic multiplier effect that drives genuine, inclusive growth across the nation,” said NIA Administrator Guillen.

Scaling up agricultural financing access

Agrisenso Plus is LANDBANK’s flagship financing program designed to support agricultural modernization. It offers affordable credit at an interest rate of only 3% per annum to small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries.

To date, the program has expanded across key provinces nationwide, bringing formal credit closer to agricultural stakeholders in underserved rural areas. As of April 2026, LANDBANK has released ₱3.78 billion in loans under the program, benefiting over 15,200 borrowers nationwide.

The initiative reflects both institutions’ shared commitment to delivering coordinated, on-the-ground support that empowers farmers, strengthens rural economies, and advances inclusive and sustainable growth. This effort directly aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s broader UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) framework to protect livelihoods, stabilize food supply, and support key sectors.