Rice prices in the country could climb to as high as ₱62 per kilo by September, driven by surging fertilizer costs linked to global tensions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the projected increase is based on current input prices, noting that fertilizer costs have nearly doubled from ₱1,650 to ₱3,000.
“In my opinion, since fertilizer has gone from ₱1,650 to ₱3,000, rice will increase next harvest season, which is around September,” Laurel said during a Senate hearing.
He warned that the projected price level would likely materialize if farmers continue using traditional urea-based fertilizers and do not shift to alternatives promoted by the DA.
“If we do traditional practices… and we do not use an alternative, the computation as of yesterday is ₱62 per kilo,” he said.
The projected price is about ₱20 higher than average rice prices before the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has affected global input costs.
To mitigate the impact, the DA is exploring measures such as rice blending, combining cheaper imported rice with locally produced varieties.
“We’re working on trying a 70–30 blend… so that the local rice can run, the imported rice can run,” Laurel said, noting that imported rice costs around ₱33 to ₱34 per kilo and may retail at about ₱40.
Another option being studied is blending rice with white corn, which is currently priced lower.
The DA said these interventions aim to manage retail prices while supporting local farmers amid rising production costs.
