DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. – Photo courtesy of Department of Agricuture/Facebook.
Despite growing risks of a projected severe El Niño this year as well as rising production and fertilizer costs due to the global energy crisis, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is reassuring local farmers of profits from rice planting during the upcoming wet season until October.
Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued the assurance as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted dry spells but with strong weather disturbances occurring in the coming months.
“The president’s directive is to make sure our farmers earn properly and do not lose money in the next harvest season despite higher fertilizer prices,” Tiu Laurel pointed out.
Before the harvest season starts, the National Food Authority (NFA) had announced its buying price for palay (unhusked rice) at Php 22 per kilogram for wet palay and Php 27/kg for dry palay.
“The goal is to set a benchmark for the industry and help ensure that farmers can earn a reasonable profit,” NFA administrator Larry Lacson cited as he noted that wet palay contains 20 to 25 percent moisture and spoils quickly while dry palay has 14 percent or less moisture, making it safe for long-term storage and milling.
“Unlike during the dry season (from November to April) when we came in later to match prices already being offered by private traders, we will be more aggressive this coming season. We will be buying early and at higher prices,” Lacson disclosed.
For the dry season harvest, the NFA had bought dry palay from Php 25 to Php 30/kg.
The agency is also milling a significant portion of its buffer stocks to free up storage space for incoming harvests and support the government’s expanded Php 20/kg rice program.
In the meantime, Tiu Laurel announced that they are helping out to stabilize market prices of the staple.
“We are clearing warehouse space so the NFA will be ready to accept more palay from farmers once harvest season begins,” the secretary concluded.