Guimaras Capitol injects fund to NFA's palay procurement

THE Provincial Government of Guimaras (PGG) has injected P1.5 million additional fund into the National Food Authority's (NFA) palay procurement in a bid to help farmers in the province.

The Provincial Government augmented P1 to the P19 per kilo procurement price of NFA.

The Capitol, through the Provincial Office for Agricultural Services (Poas), turned over the P1.5 million on February 15, 2021 and the procurement started February 17, 2021.

Governor Samuel Gumarin said the Guimaras "Rise (Rice price Immediate Support for farmers' Empowerment) in Rice" project, through Palay Buffer Stocking Program through the Provincial Office for Agricultural Services, aims to help facilitate continuous and smooth transaction of farmers with the grains agency and to help the Guimarasnon farmers cope with the plunging prices of palay.

This is to encourage the Guimarasnon farmers to process dry and sell their palay to the NFA while giving incentive to the farmers in the province.

"Buligan naton ang aton mga mangunguma kay amo ini sila ang nagapakaon sa aton. Subong nga pandemya isa man sila sa mga apektado. We have to protect our farmers sa unstable nga presyo sang humay," Gumarin said.

NFA urged the farmers to sell their produce to the agency to build up its buffer stock as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic lingers.

The aggressive procurement aims to help stabilize prices of palay at the peak of the harvest season, according to the NFA.

The NFA also buys from farmers/farmers’ organizations at the government support price to ensure market for farmers' produce and enable them to have fair return on production investment.

As of February 26, a total of 119,874 kilograms of palay were procured by the NFA from the Guimarasnon farmers. (PR)