DA mulls setting farm-gate prices for non-palay produce

The government is looking at the prospect of setting farm-gate prices for agricultural products other than palay while taking care to balance the interest of producers and buyers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday said.

In the Department of Trade and Industry’s radio program at DZBB, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said they are contemplating this move, noting how the National Food Authority (NFA) similarly handles its palay purchases from farmers.

“There are many proposals and this is just one that our department is studying because we need to balance the interests of farmers and consumers,” De Mesa said.

“Currently for rice, for palay, the NFA council has a price set, but just for their [own] purchases,” he added.

De Mesa said that the council had set for itself last year the farm-gate price range of P19 to P23 per kilogram (kg) of dry palay, and P16 to P19 per kg for freshly harvested palay.

“We are studying this for other commodities,” he said, adding that the study will involve other sectors to ensure that the interest of everyone is taken into account.

According to the DA monitoring of major markets in the National Capital Region as of Jan. 19, locally produced regular-milled rice was being sold from P48 to P53 per kg, while well-milled rice was priced at P49 to P55 per kg.

Meanwhile, imported well-milled rice was selling at prices ranging from P54 to P58 per kg.

To reduce postharvest losses, the DA official said that four new cold storage facilities will be put up in La Trinidad in Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera region, as well as in Quezon province and in Mindoro.

“This way, we will really be able to link the whole of Luzon in order to cater for our requirements for fruits and vegetables,” he said.

The DA official said they hope to finish these facilities in Luzon within this year, adding that the ones planned in Visayas and Mindanao are targeted to be completed in 2025. INQ