TO MAKE it easier for rice farmers to sell their palay, the Provincial Agriculture Office is eyeing a mobile buying to be scheduled in the different parts of Negros Occidental.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said Sunday, September 15, that they are finalizing the mechanics for buying palay from rice farmers to help them cope with the impact of the Rice Tariffication Law that resulted in low prices of palay.
Masculino said the Provincial Government has allocated P5 million for the program and that they may start the buying at P15 per kilo before September ends.
He also said that the Provincial Board is expected to approve the Supplemental Budget intended for the buying, which is P5 million, and an additional P1 million for operational expenses, such as buying sacks for the palay.
Masculino said under the law, a publication of 15 days is required after the approval of the Supplemental budget.
"So, we are hoping that everything would be in place before the end of this month," Masculino said.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Provincial Government will buy palay from farmers having one hectare or less of rice fields to address the problem on low price buying of palay.
Lacson said the P5 million fund was already included in the Annual Investment Plan, which was recently approved by the Provincial Development Council in their meeting.