The rice planting season is approaching for the expected harvest in September and October.
But according to the Agricultural Industry Association (Sinag), many farmers are skeptical due to the rising price of fertilizer and oil for irrigation.
“From P850 per bag nung October 2020, ngayong itong May nasa P1,050 na per bag,” said Sinag Chairman Rosendo So.
“They need the oil, langis para makakuha ng tubig,” he added.
As a result, the price of palay increased by P2 per kilo.
But even if the production cost rises, farmers will not be able to sell more expensively due to the reduction in rice tariffs in countries outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to 35 percent from 40 percent and 50 percent.
“Hindi na bibili ng mataas ng palay ang rice miller kasi nasunog na sila dati,” said So.
“So ang bili sa mga magsasaka, ang tingin lang, nasa P15 na palay… malulugi ‘yong farmers nang P2 per kilo,” he added.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the effect on consumers will not be immediately felt.
Farmers hesitant to plant rice because of cost: group
Agriculture Secretary William Dar also explained that the agency distributes fertilizer to farmers.
“You can see the impact of that maybe in the future but not now. That’s where we are also giving some ayuda, ‘yong fertilizer,” said Dar.
Sinag asked the government to buy the rice directly from the farmers at P17.90 to P19 per kilo to have an income still.
But the DA will not be able to do this.
“NFA (National Food Authority) can only buy so much for the buffer stocking. We are not buying,” said Dar.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Free Farmers suspects that lowering the rice tariff favors countries such as Pakistan, China, and India is not to help consumers but to speed up bilateral trade talks between India and the Philippines.
“They are trying to encourage investments from India, and of course, when you try to encourage them to come in, you also have to offer some kind of incentive,” said Raul Montemayor, national manager of Federation of Free Farmers.
The DA strongly denied the suspicion.
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