Pagbili ng NFA ng mais mula sa mga magsasaka tulad ng ginagawa sa palay, iniutos ni PBBM | 24 Oras

Summary

President Bongbong Marcos has directed the National Food Authority (NFA) to purchase corn in addition to rice to support farmers and address low agricultural product prices. Despite this, a farmers' group, Sinag, believes the NFA's purchase amount is insufficient, only covering less than 2% of the harvest. The NFA aims to ensure a stable buying price for both rice and corn, thus guaranteeing farmers a better livelihood. The government hopes to expand NFA’s role in emergencies by purchasing corn, and pilot programs may begin in select areas next year.

Takeaways

• 😀 President Bongbong Marcos has ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to purchase corn, alongside rice, to support local farmers.
• 😀 A farmers' group has expressed concern that the NFA's corn purchases are insufficient and will only be used during emergencies.
• 😀 Farmers questioned President Marcos during his visit to Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, about addressing low agricultural product prices and high farming input costs.
• 😀 President Marcos responded by emphasizing the need for adequate prices for both rice and corn to ensure farmers' livelihoods.
• 😀 The president assured that the NFA will not lower the buying price of rice or corn, even if market prices are lower.
• 😀 The NFA's mandate includes purchasing rice to create a buffer stock for emergencies, and there's hope that corn will also be included in this mandate.
• 😀 The NFA's current rice buying price is higher than the farm gate price, which has been decreasing since January.
• 😀 The NFA's purchasing of corn is too small to serve as a reliable emergency buffer, according to the agricultural group Sinag.
• 😀 Sinag argues that the NFA's corn purchases only account for less than 2% of the harvest, making it ineffective for supporting farmers.
• 😀 NFA funding should be increased to allow more corn purchases, or farmers should be directly incentivized with subsidies instead of relying on the NFA.
• 😀 The NFA plans to pilot corn purchases from selected areas in 2026, starting with Nueva Ecija, in an effort to support the agricultural sector.

Q & A

What additional responsibility has President Bongbong Marcos assigned to the National Food Authority (NFA)?

President Bongbong Marcos has ordered the NFA to purchase corn in addition to rice, starting next year, to help support farmers.

What concern did farmers raise when President Marcos visited Muñoz, Nueva Ecija?

Farmers asked President Marcos how the government could address the low purchase prices of agricultural products and reduce the cost of farming inputs.

How does President Marcos intend to help farmers with the pricing of their produce?

President Marcos intends to ensure that the buying prices for both corn and rice are set at levels that will allow farmers to earn a living, support their families, and educate their children.

What is the National Food Authority's (NFA) role in purchasing rice and corn?

The NFA is tasked with purchasing rice and corn from farmers to maintain a buffer stock, which can be used in emergency situations, including food emergencies.

Why does the NFA's buying price for rice not change according to President Marcos?

The NFA's buying price for rice will not be lowered because the aim is to support farmers by ensuring they earn enough to cover their costs and have a sustainable livelihood.

What issue did the agricultural industry association, Sinag, highlight regarding the NFA's purchases?

Sinag raised concerns that the amount of corn purchased by the NFA is insufficient to serve as an adequate buffer in case of an emergency, as it only accounts for less than 2% of the harvest.

What suggestion did Sinag make to improve support for farmers?

Sinag suggested that the NFA's budget should be increased to allow for more purchases from farmers, or alternatively, that direct sales by farmers be incentivized with additional support.

How does the current farm gate price of corn compare to previous periods?

The farm gate price of corn in the first half of the year is higher compared to the last quarter of 2024, but it has been decreasing since January and is lower than in the same period of 2024.

What is the NFA's plan for purchasing corn next year?

The NFA plans to begin pilot purchases of corn from selected areas, including Nueva Ecija, starting next year.

How does the NFA’s purchasing strategy impact the farmers' ability to sell their corn?

The NFA's limited purchases do not adequately support all farmers, as they are only able to purchase a small fraction of the total harvest, leaving most farmers without a guaranteed buyer for their corn.