Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has assured farmers in Western Visayas that the government will protect their harvests during the upcoming main cropping season by raising the buying price of palay and temporarily halting rice import arrivals through Iloilo ports.
During the inauguration of the National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Agriculture’s (DA) modern rice mill and dryer facility in Dumangas on July 14, Laurel said the government will set the minimum buying price of wet palay at P21 per kilogram to help farmers cope with rising production costs, particularly the increasing price of fertilizers.
Laurel acknowledged that fertilizer prices remain beyond the government’s control, noting that global supply disruptions and tensions in the Middle East have pushed prices higher than previous levels.
To further protect local rice producers, Laurel announced that the DA will suspend the entry of imported rice through Iloilo ports from mid-September until the end of November, coinciding with the peak harvest season.
He said the temporary measure aims to prevent imported rice from depressing farmgate prices and to ensure local farmers can sell their produce at fair prices.
The announcement came as Laurel led the inauguration of the state-of-the-art rice milling and drying facility in Dumangas, which is expected to improve post-harvest operations, reduce grain losses, and strengthen the country’s rice supply chain.
The DA said the combined interventions are part of the government’s efforts to enhance farmers’ incomes while ensuring stable rice production and food security.IMT
