NFA eases palay buying standards

Thousands of rice farmers stand to benefit from newly adjusted procurement rules of the National Food Authority (NFA), following consultations with growers, millers, and other stakeholders ahead of the dry season harvest peak.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the policy shift is meant to widen the agency’s buying coverage while raising farmers’ take-home earnings. He noted that the move carries out the directive of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen state support for local producers.

“Sabi nila, ‘Bakit naman ang higpit-higpit ng requirements ni NFA?’ So, ito ‘yung tugon, ginawan natin ng pagbabago para mas maging acceptable yung maraming palay (They asked, ‘Why are NFA’s requirements so rigid?’ This is our response. We made changes to ensure that more palay would be acceptable),” Lacson said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

Among the key adjustments is the recalibration of acceptable moisture content. Clean and dry palay may now reach up to 14 percent moisture content, from the previous stricter benchmark, with 11 percent set as the minimum. Fresh and wet palay, meanwhile, may range from 22 percent to 29.9 percent.

Lacson explained that moisture content reflects the water weight inside the grain — a factor that previously led to frequent rejections or delays in procurement.

“May corresponding increase ‘yung (presyo) ng ibang category ng palay dahil sa bagong sistema… Lesser ang mare-reject sa mga magsasaka (There will be a corresponding increase in price for the other palay categories because of the new system… There will be less rejected palay from farmers),” he said.

The NFA currently buys clean and dry palay at ₱21 per kilogram and fresh and wet palay at ₱17 per kilogram.

Under the revised system, a “graduated” pricing table will be used, particularly in warehouses equipped with dryers. Instead of outright rejecting slightly over-limit moisture levels, the agency will make corresponding weight deductions.

“Imagine the hassle na babalik pa ang magsasaka, patutuyuin pa tapos ibebenta. So, iyon ‘yung sinolve natin. Ngayon, hindi na siya pauuwin. Kunwari, 14.5 percent, bawasan na lang weight, ‘yung 0.5 percent, ibawas lang. So, hindi siya ₱17 – probably magiging ₱20 or ₱19.50. Mayroon tayong table na susundan (Imagine the hassle if the farmer needs to go back to dry the palay first, and then sell it again. That is what we solved. Now, they don’t need to go home. For instance, the moisture content is 14.5 percent, so just reduce the weight, the 0.5 percent. It will not be ₱17 per kg., probably it will be ₱20 or ₱19.50. We have a table to refer to),” he said.

“Mas magkakaroon sila ng additional na kita kung ikukumpara mo sa current system namin ngayon (they have additional income compared to the current system).”

Pest standards were likewise relaxed. Palay that is “visibly-free” from pests may now be accepted even if negligible traces — such as one or two pieces — are detected, instead of being automatically rejected.

“Meaning kapag may makita na talagang negligible naman, isa o dalawang piraso e pwede na ring tanggapin, hindi (If it is negligible, one or two pieces, that would be acceptable. It will no longer be an) outright rejection,” Lacson said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the NFA’s revised procurement framework supports the administration’s broader food security goals.

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been clear. We want farmers to be profitable, not perpetually vulnerable to price swings. A food-secure Philippines starts with farmers who earn fairly from their harvest,” he said.