DA, NFA Intensify Palay Buying
PAMPANGA—Around Region 3, Pampanga is considered as one of the high yielding provinces when it comes to palay production aside from Nueva Ecija. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Office, the province obtained 93,004 metric tons in the second quarter of 2020. Accompanying this high production is the absence of sales in the market.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) together with the National Food Authority (NFA) play a vital role for the farmers. The NFA responds with the buffer stock mandate wherein the agency is responsible for buying harvested palay costing 19 pesos per kilo.
According to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, amid the pandemic lack of income adds to the problems of farmers. “We want to intensify this scheme of rolling over NFA’s limited funds so we can achieve a ‘double-multiplier’ effect. So, from its P10-billion procurement fund this year, it could buy P20 billion worth of palay,” he added
For the province of Pampanga, 25.6 million pesos was allotted fund to NFA for the buying of palay and that is equivalent to 270,000 bags.
NFA Provincial Manager Paolo R. Cruz stated that he is very optimistic that the NFA Pampanga could buy around more than 300,000 bags. “Madali pong magpasok ng palay sa NFA, ang gagawin lang po nila, pag nakapag patuyo na sila ng palay ay magpapa-schedule dito sa aming opisina, pag nakapag pa schedule na ay bibigyan lamang sila ng maliit na papel kung saan nandoon yung kanilang schedule at nandon din yung impormasyon kung saang bodega sila naka assigned” Cruz uttered
He also encourages farmers to sell their produced in NFA instead with the traders. “Sa ating mga magsasaka po huwag po tayong mahihiyang pumunta sa opisina ng NFA, kami po ay buong puso maglilingkod para sa inyo.”
One of these farmers is Romeo Reyes from Cawayan, Mexico, Pampanga who expressed his gratitude towards NFA. “Kaya po dinadala namen yung palay namen dito, maganda yung presyo di katulad sa ibang buyer mababa. Nakakatulong po yung NFA sa mga magsasaka, saka wala naman pong problema sa NFA maganda yung bigayan dito.” Reyes said.###
Writer: Danica Jen P. Jino
Photographer: JC Cayanan