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Adrian Kenneth Halili - The Philippine Star
June 2, 2026 | 12:00am
Farmers thresh their newly harvested palay.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) is looking to increase its buying price for locally grown palay or unhusked rice to support farmers amid higher input costs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The NFA will set a buying price of P22 per kilo for wet palay and P27 per kilo for dry palay once the rice harvest season begins.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency is looking to set a pricing benchmark for the industry and ensure that farmers can earn a profit despite higher costs.
The increased buying price will allow the agency to lessen the losses of local producers amid higher costs for fuel and fertilizers.
NFA administrator Larry Lacson said the agency would be more aggressive in its palay procurements for the incoming harvest season.
“Unlike during the dry season when we came in later mainly to match prices already being offered by private traders, we will be more aggressive this coming season. We will be buying early and at higher prices,” Lacson added.
The NFA had purchased dry palay at prices ranging from P25 to P30 per kilo during the dry season harvest.
The NFA procured only about 25,000 metric tons of its 350,000 MT target during the first quarter. It is targeting rice inventories to reach 790,000 MT by the end of the year.
Lacson said earlier that the NFA would purchase the remaining balance of its rice procurement targets by the second half of the year.
The NFA is also starting to free up warehouse space for the upcoming September harvest season by reducing current rice stocks and moving inventories to create additional storage capacity.
Lacson noted that the agency is also milling a portion of its aging buffer stocks to clear up more warehouse space, while also supplying rice for the DA’s expanded P20 per kilo rice program.
