Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija, known as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines,” is a landlocked province located in Central Luzon (Region III). It is bordered by Pangasinan to the north, Nueva Vizcaya to the northeast, Aurora to the east, Bulacan to the south, and Tarlac and Pampanga to the west. The province covers a total land area of approximately 5,751.33 square kilometers, making it one of the largest provinces in Luzon. Palayan City serves as the provincial capital, while Cabanatuan City is the largest and most populous city in the province.

Nueva Ecija’s strategic location and fertile plains make it a major center for agricultural production in the Philippines. It is the top producer of rice, contributing significantly to the country’s total rice output. Aside from rice, the province also cultivates other major crops, including corn, onions, garlic, mangoes, and vegetables. Livestock and poultry farming, particularly swine and poultry production, are also important contributors to the province’s economy.

Agricultural Sector

Nueva Ecija is widely recognized as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” due to its vast and fertile agricultural lands dedicated to rice production. It is the country’s top rice-producing province, contributing significantly to the national rice supply through the cultivation of both irrigated and rainfed rice fields.

Aside from rice, Nueva Ecija also produces a wide variety of crops, including corn, onions, garlic, mangoes, root crops, and vegetables. The province is known for its significant production of onions and garlic, with Bongabon being regarded as the “Onion Capital of the Philippines.”

Fisheries Sector

Nueva Ecija’s fishery sector is a growing contributor to the province’s economy, despite it being a landlocked province. The province has developed a strong inland fisheries industry, primarily centered on fishpond aquaculture, rice-fish farming, and reservoir-based fishing. Fishery production is supported by the province’s extensive network of irrigation canals, rivers, and reservoirs, including the Pantabangan Dam and the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS).

The province is known for its production of tilapia, which is the most commonly cultivated species due to its adaptability to freshwater environments and high market demand. Nueva Ecija has earned the title “Tilapia Capital of the Philippines” due to its significant contribution to national tilapia production. Aside from tilapia, other species such as catfish, carp, and mudfish are also cultivated in fishponds and rice fields.

Poverty Situation

Nueva Ecija has experienced a gradual decline in poverty over the years, thanks to its strong agricultural base and improving economic opportunities. As one of the largest rice-producing provinces in the Philippines, the agricultural sector serves as the primary source of livelihood for many residents. However, poverty remains a significant challenge, particularly in rural areas where farming and fishing are the main sources of income.

Project Profile

DA

The SAAD Program has made a notable impact in Nueva Ecija, benefiting 6 farmer groups, which consist of 140 farmer members. These farmer groups are located in 6 barangays in the municipality of Nampicuan. Among the livelihood projects implemented were corn, swine, and chicken production. The program’s efforts aimed to address economic challenges by providing targeted agricultural support to uplift these marginalized communities.

Year CoveredMunicipalityBarangayProjectAssociationMembersInput Amount
2023NampicuanAmbasador Alzate VillageDiversified Swine Production in Nampicuan, Nueva EcijaAmbassador Swine Farmers Association251,575,000.00
2023NampicuanCabawanganDiversified Corn Production in Cabawangan , Nampicuan , Nueva EcijaCabawangan Corn Farmers Association201,703,000.00
2023NampicuanMaelingDiversified Chicken production in Brgy. Maeling , Nampicuan Nueva EcijaMaeling Poultry Farmer Association202,188,000.00
2023NampicuanMayantocDiversified Swine Production in Brgy. Mayontoc , Nampicuan, Nueva EcijaMayantoc Duck Farmers Association252,096,000.00
2023NampicuanMedicoDiversified Swine Production in Nampicuan, Nueva EcijaMedico Hog Raiser Association251,575,000.00
2023NampicuanMonicSwine Production in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, MonicMonic Swine Herd Association251,575,000.00
2024NampicuanAmbasador Alzate VillageDIVERSIFIED GOAT PRODUCTION OF AMBASSADOR SWINE FARMERS ASSOCIATIONAmbassador Swine Farmers Association251,783,668.00
2024NampicuanCabawanganDIVERSIFIED CORN PRODUCTION OF CABAWANGAN CORN FARMERS ASSOCIATIONCabawangan Corn Farmers Association203,713,991.00
2024NampicuanMaelingDIVERSIFIED CHICKEN PRODUCTION OF MAELING POULTRY FARMER ASSOCIATIONMaeling Poultry Farmer Association202,588,000.00
2024NampicuanMayantocDIVERSIFIED GOAT PRODUCTION OF MAYANTOC DUCK FARMERS ASSOCIATIONMayantoc Duck Farmers Association251,783,668.00
2024NampicuanMedicoDIVERSIFIED GOAT PRODUCTION OF MEDICO HOG RAISER ASSOCIATIONMedico Hog Raiser Association251,783,668.00
2024NampicuanMonicDIVERSIFIED GOAT PRODUCTION OF MONIC SWINE HERD ASSOCIATIONMonic Swine Herd Association251,783,668.00
2025NampicuanAmbasador Alzate VillageDiversified Goat Production of Ambassador Swine Farmers AssociationAmbassador Swine Farmers Association201,098,500.00
2025NampicuanCabawanganDiversified Corn Production of Cabawangan Corn Farmers AssociationCabawangan Corn Farmers Association203,863,286.00
2025NampicuanMaelingDiversified Chicken production of Maeling Poultry Farmer AssociationMaeling Poultry Farmer Association202,630,000.00
2025NampicuanMayantocDiversified Goat Production of Mayantoc Duck Farmers AssociationMayantoc Duck Farmers Association201,108,500.00
2025NampicuanMedicoDiversified Goat Production of Medico Hog Raiser AssociationMedico Hog Raiser Association201,098,500.00
2025NampicuanMonicDiversified Goat Production of Monic Swine Herd AssociationMonic Swine Herd Association201,108,500.00
2026NampicuanAmbasador Alzate VillageDiversified Poultry production of Ambassador Swine Farmers AssociationAmbassador Swine Farmers Association191,339,928.57
2026NampicuanCabawanganDiversified Corn Production of Cabawangan Corn Farmers AssociationCabawangan Corn Farmers Association202,440,458.87
2026NampicuanMaelingDiversified Poultry production of Maeling Poultry Farmer AssociationMaeling Poultry Farmer Association201,204,928.57
2026NampicuanMayantocDiversified Poultry production of Mayantoc Duck Farmers AssociationMayantoc Duck Farmers Association201,280,214.29
2026NampicuanMedicoDiversified Poultry production of Medico Hog Raiser AssociationMedico Hog Raiser Association151,475,928.57
2026NampicuanMonicDiversified Poultry production of Monic Swine Herd AssociationMonic Swine Herd Association191,430,928.57

BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has been actively supporting the fisheries sector in Nueva Ecija through various programs. These include the provision of fingerlings, feeds, and fishing equipment, as well as conducting technical training on sustainable aquaculture practices. Fishery cooperatives and associations also play a crucial role in promoting knowledge-sharing and improving market access for local fisherfolk.

Year CoveredMunicipalityBarangayProjectAssociationMembersInput Amount
2023NampicuanMonicTilapia Culture in FishpenSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Barangay Medico At Monic29205,846.00
2023NampicuanSoutheast PoblacionTilapia Culture in PondSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Nampicuan24485,644.00
2024NampicuanEstacion (Pob.)Tilapia Culture in PondSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Nampicuan20384,713.00
2024NampicuanMonicTilapia Culture in FishpenSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Barangay Medico At Monic19113,889.80
2025NampicuanMonicTilapia Culture in PondSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Barangay Medico At Monic20881,875.00
2025NampicuanSoutheast PoblacionTilapia Culture in PondSamahan Ng Mangingisda At Magsasaka Ng Nampicuan151,481,875.00
2026NampicuanEstacion (Pob.)Catfish Culture in PondDamayang Kristiyano Workers Association32100,000.00