(File photo)
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The National Food Authority (NFA) in this province has started buying fresh palay under its buffer stocking program.
Sheryl Gamboa, NFA-Bulacan manager, said in a statement on Tuesday they are targetting to procure 64,000 bags of palay for the current dry cropping season.
Beside buying clean and dry palay with 14 percent moisture content, Gamboa said, "Bumibili din po kami ng sariwang palay depende sa moisture content. May equivalent net weight factor po na sinusunod at (We also buy fresh palay depending on the moisture content. We follow an equivalent net weight factor and) within our drying capacity".
Gamboa said they also have trucks that can be used to pick up the farmers' palay produce.
Meanwhile, with the higher commercial palay prices against the government's rates, the regional office of the NFA in Central Luzon is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) on their palay procurement program as the peak of the harvest season nears.
The region is considered the rice granary of the country.
Jonathan Yazon, NFA-Central Luzon regional director, admitted that so far, they have only procured a very minimal volume of palay for their buffer stocking program.
The reason for this, he said, is the higher prices offered by rice traders, which range from PHP19.50 to PHP21 per kilo for clean and dry palay, compared to the NFA's PHP19.00 per kilo for the same quality of rice crop.
To increase their buffer stocks during the peak of palay harvest season in April and May, Yazon said, "We're coordinating with our LGUs if they are interested in adding incentives through our Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units."
He said under this scheme, LGUs and legislators may enter into a marketing agreement with NFA and provide a premium amount which shall be added to the existing NFA support price.
"They can procure their own buffer stocks and use our warehouses for storing the same," Yazon added. (PNA)
Sheryl Gamboa, NFA-Bulacan manager, said in a statement on Tuesday they are targetting to procure 64,000 bags of palay for the current dry cropping season.
Beside buying clean and dry palay with 14 percent moisture content, Gamboa said, "Bumibili din po kami ng sariwang palay depende sa moisture content. May equivalent net weight factor po na sinusunod at (We also buy fresh palay depending on the moisture content. We follow an equivalent net weight factor and) within our drying capacity".
Gamboa said they also have trucks that can be used to pick up the farmers' palay produce.
Meanwhile, with the higher commercial palay prices against the government's rates, the regional office of the NFA in Central Luzon is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) on their palay procurement program as the peak of the harvest season nears.
The region is considered the rice granary of the country.
Jonathan Yazon, NFA-Central Luzon regional director, admitted that so far, they have only procured a very minimal volume of palay for their buffer stocking program.
The reason for this, he said, is the higher prices offered by rice traders, which range from PHP19.50 to PHP21 per kilo for clean and dry palay, compared to the NFA's PHP19.00 per kilo for the same quality of rice crop.
To increase their buffer stocks during the peak of palay harvest season in April and May, Yazon said, "We're coordinating with our LGUs if they are interested in adding incentives through our Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units."
He said under this scheme, LGUs and legislators may enter into a marketing agreement with NFA and provide a premium amount which shall be added to the existing NFA support price.
"They can procure their own buffer stocks and use our warehouses for storing the same," Yazon added. (PNA)
