By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) on Friday said there will be “good news” to be announced next week that will benefit local rice farmers in Central Luzon.
“There will be some good news next week. I’ll inspect perhaps over this weekend, making sure everything is okay before next week,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.
Farmers in Bulacan have been requesting the NFA to resume its palay (unhusked rice) procurement amid the low prices being offered by traders in the province.
To help the farmers with the remaining harvest, Lacson said he has ordered the immediate disposal of 5,000 bags to free up warehouse spaces in San Ildefonso town.
“As we speak, and tomorrow, and itong weekend, lahat ng mga nakikipilang magsasaka hanggang 5,000 bags, maa-accommodate natin (until the weekend, we can accommodate all farmers lining up, up to 5,000 bags),” he said.
In a statement, the NFA said traders’ buying prices went to as low as PHP11.50/kg., which was below the estimated farmers’ production cost of PHP12/kg. to PHP14/kg.
Besides areas in Bulacan, Lacson also cited low buying prices in Tiaong, Quezon.
“Sabi ko, paki-feedback sa atin at tingnan mabuti para at least makagawa tayo ng kahit paano pang paraan para makaibsan naman ng kaunti, makakuha pa tayo ng palay sa magsasaka (I said send us their feedback and look carefully into it for us to at least secure ways to help, for us to buy from farmers),” Lacson said.
The Department of Agriculture is currently investigating unscrupulous traders in 32 locations in Luzon and Mindanao, with the lowest procurement price logged at PHP13.50/kg.
Some farmers, however, chose to store their harvest to wait for NFA to free up warehouse spaces.
Lacson said the ongoing modernization in NFA, including warehouse repairs, will help farmers in the long run.
“Kapag may mga natapus-tapos diyan, mahahabol pa natin iyong mga nasa magsasaka na pinilit nilang hindi muna ibenta sa mga traders kasi hinintay nilang lumuwag ang bodega ni NFA (Once it’s completed, we can buy from farmers who opted not to sell their harvests to traders because they are waiting for the NFA),” he said.
The average buying price of NFA is set at PHP18/kg. of fresh palay and PHP24/kg. of clean and dry palay, much higher than traders’ pricing.
As of May 20, the NFA has secured 8.24 million 50-kg bags of milled rice for the country’s national rice buffer stock, which will be sufficient for 11 days. (PNA)
