MANILA, Philippines — Farmers have been losing a significant amount of income because the price of palay has become so low.
This is what the agriculture group, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), has observed.
The group claims that several areas in the country sell palay at P13.00 to P14.00 per kilogram while in some places it is as low as P10.00 per kilogram.
However, the production cost has increased due to the rise in prices of fuel and fertilizer.
“Ang production cost ngayon ng fresh harvest ang computation namin is P15.50 (per kilo),” said Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura.
But the Department of Agriculture (DA) said there is a slight difference in the price of palay this year compared to last year. Farmers can still make profit through the DA’s programs, the Department said.
“Meron po talagang totoong mangilan ngilan exceptional na 10 (pesos per kilogram) pero ito po ay mga basang-basa at medyo sira pong palay,” explained DA Usec Ariel Cayanan.
But SINAG questioned why the price of imported rice has not gone down when the capital for each kilogram is cheap at P22.00.
“Ang kumikita dyan ay iyong mga importer. Iyon ang sinasabi namin na pag ibinaba ang taripa hindi sigurado na mapupunta sa consumer ang presyo,” So added.
SINAG urges the national government to increase the budget of the National Food Authority (NFA) to further support local production.
However, DA Secretary William Dar said they tried to ask for additional budget to buy palay but was rejected.
“We suggested through the budget process but it was not approved,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said, many local government units are now starting to buy directly from local farmers.
If ever the budget is approved, it is still the NFA who will procure rice for relief goods needed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)
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