A farmers’ cooperative in Batac, Ilocos Norte is turning locally grown brown rice into a ready-to-eat snack, creating a new market for its harvest while promoting healthier rice-based products.
Sales of the Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative’s brown rice krispies increased from nearly PhP23,000 in 2023 to more than PhP130,000 in 2025, making it the group’s best-selling value-added product.
The cooperative, supported by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Batac, started with 29 members in 2018 and has grown to 67 active members engaged in producing and marketing value-added rice products.
“Brown rice krispies is our best-selling product. It has opened a new market for our brown rice and provides additional income for our members through value-added processing,” said Larry C. Gabuten, cooperative chairperson.
Made from NSIC Rc 160 and Rc 480, the brown rice krispies are sold in cheese and barbecue flavors at PhP50 per 50-gram pouch.
The cooperative adopted the product technology from the Mariano Marcos State University Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator, which continues to provide technical assistance, processing support, and market linkages.
Leah May DC. Tapec, project focal person, said the cooperative shows how farmers can earn more by turning brown rice into marketable products.
“Brown rice krispies show that farmers can increase the value of their harvest by developing products that are both nutritious and profitable,” Tapec said.
Interested buyers may visit the cooperative’s Kadiwa Store in Barangay Rayuray, Batac, Ilocos Norte, or contact its Facebook page and PhilRice Batac for product inquiries and orders.
