The National Food Authority (NFA) has announced a significant increase in the buying price of palay (unmilled rice) in Western Visayas. Clean and dry palay will now fetch between P23.00 and P30.00 per kilogram, while fresh or wet palay will be bought at rates ranging from P17.00 to P23.00 per kilogram.
This move, led by NFA Capiz Acting Branch Manager Cashmere Gemarino, aims to boost the procurement of palay from individual farmers and farmer organizations, ensuring sufficient buffer stocks for emergencies and calamities.
This new pricing scheme, based on the recently implemented Price Range Scheme, introduces flexibility in setting competitive ex-farm buying prices, thereby helping the government meet its palay procurement targets. The prices will be adjusted weekly based on regular monitoring and assessments to maintain competitiveness.
For farmers in Western Visayas, this price increase is a game-changer. Leonil Dondiego, a 49-year-old member of the Dapdapan Farmer’s Cooperative in Sapian town, expressed his gratitude, noting that the higher prices will significantly boost their income. Abelardo, another local farmer, praised the NFA's initiative and suggested establishing palay buying stations on market days in each municipality to further ease the selling process.
To sell their harvest to the NFA, farmers need to secure a certification from the Department of Agriculture – Municipal Agriculture Office, which confirms their registered farm area on the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). Cooperatives or associations must submit certificates from relevant government bodies such as the Cooperative Development Authority or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The NFA Capiz Branch has made arrangements for farmers to deliver their palay to any of its four warehouses located in Brgy. Bolo in Roxas City, Brgy. Santa Cruz in Dumalag town, Brgy. Mangoso in Sigma town, and the Aklan Grains Center in Brgy. Linabuan Sur in Banga, Aklan province.
In summary, the increased buying price for palay is a significant benefit for farmers in Western Visayas. It ensures better income, encourages more robust procurement, and ultimately strengthens the region's food security.
This initiative by the NFA is a positive step towards supporting farmers and securing a stable food supply for the nation.
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