The National Food Authority (NFA) has been getting more farmers to sell their palay harvest to the government instead of the private traders, ensuring adequate rice supply through the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period.
Provincial Farmers Association Council (PFAC) president Estrelita Quiampo-Galera said Tuesday that most of the local farmers chose to sell their palay to NFA with P19 buying price compared to private traders with around P12 to P12.50.
“Malaking bagay na sa NFA sila nagbi-benta ng palay sa ngayon. Dito sa amin sa poblacion (Narra) ay meron kaming quarantine pass. Kapag ‘yong isang farmer ay talagang na-certify na wala silang virus sa COVID-19 ay okay lang,” she said.
She also said that due to the higher price offered by NFA compared to private traders, most of the local farmers were convinced to sell their palay to NFA.
Recently, NFA requested farmers to sell their palay to the agency to be additional rice supply after milling.
Different local government units in the province were purchasing rice supply from NFA to be distributed to their constituents affected by the ECQ.
She said that the NFA purchased more palay from farmers during the second cropping season.
“Patapos na rin ang anihan dito sa Narra, so far mas marami nabili yong NFA dahil sa presyo kumpara sa traders. Sa ngayon wala na nag-aani dahil patapos na ang anihan. Tuloy-tuloy ang campaign namin sa farmers (na magbenta pa rin sa NFA),” she said.
“Yong mga trader namin dito sa Palawan ay nakapag-import sila ng mga bigas sa ibang bansa, hindi sila makapagtaas (ng farm gate buying price) kung hindi muna nila mapapaubos ang imported rice nila,” she said.
Meanwhile, Galera said that based on her observation, local farmers have not yet benefited from the rice comprehensive enhancement fund (RCEF) of the Republic Act 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law.
She said that the Department of Agriculture demands a lot of requirements for loan programs that result in other farmers to still consider selling to private traders with low farm gate prices.
“Palagay ko di pa rin kasi sa presyo ng fertilizer, pesticide ay mataas pa rin. Mas okay pa rin kung bigyan ng paraan ng gobyerno ang problema natin sa farmers. Kahit na may ginagawa na silang program na makakatulong sa farmers pero sa nakikita ko kasi hirap pa rin ang farmers natin kasi ang loans sa DA ay maraming requirements ang hinihingi nila,” she said.
“Nakikita namin na controlled pa rin yong ng LandBank, di pa rin masyadong nakikinabang ang farmers natin dahil sa napakaraming requirements,” she said.
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