Farmers say P20/kilo a fair price for palay

RICE FARMERS from Central Luzon said the government is not doing enough to raise the price of palay (unmilled rice), and called P20 per kilo a fair price for their harvest at farmgate level.

The farmers from Region III, the country’s leading producer of the grain, said in a briefing that they support the repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law, which liberalized rice imports and imposed tariffs on inbound rice shipments brought in by private traders.

The briefing in Quezon City organized by the Nagkakaisang Magsasakang Novo Ecijano (NAMANE) highlighted the government’s failure to achieve food security.

“Sa baba po ng halaga ng palay, wala na kaming tinatanaw na kinabukasan,” (With palay prices so low, we see no future in rice farming),” NABATE Spokesman Crisostomo Marzan said.

Palay prices are currently at P10-11 per kilo, with some regions reporting prices as low as P8.

Mr. Marzan said farmers are unable to support their families at these prices, adding that they consider P20 per kilo to be fair.

The National Food Authority (NFA) lists a buying price of P23-30 per kilo for dry palay and P17-23 for wet palay, depending on location. The NFA can buy only a small percentage of the harvest because of storage or budget constraints.

The NFA has insufficient funds, trucks, and dryers to buy directly from farmers, Mr. Marzan said, adding that the Rice Tariffication Law has made the Philippines too dependent on imports.

NAMANE said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has refused to engage with the group, and announced plans to protest at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Oct. 15.

The circle is the site of the two key agriculture-related agencies — the DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform. — Andre Christopher H. Alampay