NFA fails to hit palay procurement target in Central Luzon

CABANATUAN, Nueva Ecija, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Central Luzon has only procured more than 50 percent of its palay stock requirement as the harvest season in the region is nearing its end.

Jonathan Yazon, NFA Central Luzon director, said their palay procurement in the region from January to April reached more than 200,000 bags only or 50 percent of the target of 400,000 bags.

“Aurora and Nueva Ecija have remaining production of 76 and 34 percent, respectively, while Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac have below 10 percent remaining palay production,” Yazon said.

Sheryl Gamboa, NFA-Bulacan manager, said they managed to procure only 23,730 bags of palay as of last Friday.

The NFA-Bulacan targeted to procure 64,000 bags of palay.

The current NFA palay procurement price is at P19 per kilo, or slightly lower than the average prices offered at the Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park, at P19.50 to P20.50 per kilo.

The Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park, both located in Bulacan, are the major rice trading centers in Luzon.

Simeon Sioson, chair of the Federation of Central Luzon Farmers Cooperatives, reiterated their call for the government, through the NFA, to raise its palay support price.