Farmers in Cabiao town in Nueva Ecija province have asked for government help after their palay paddies were submerged.
Several hectares of palay plantations in Barangay Santa Isabel were flooded after a thunderstorm last week, while the farmers are harvesting their crops.
The farmgate price of soaked unhusked palay dropped to P6.00 per kilo, which is below the trading rate prescribed by the government.
Edwin Galang, who sows palay in a 15-hectare area, said he sold 800 sacks of harvest at a losing price.
The situation was aggravated by traders warehouses stocked with imported rice.
"If the farmgate price of palay cannot be raised, the cost of farming production should be lowered," said Norberto Castro, who relies on loans for farming capital.
"Hindi na kinayang ipa-dryer ang palay dahil sa laki ng puhunan. Sa halip, sa bakuran na lamang ko ito ibinibilad at piniling huwag munang ibenta dahil sa murang presyo," added the farmer of 40 years.
Castro said farmers continue to incur losses if the prices of seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural commodities are not reduced.
"Kaya umaapela kami kay President [Ferdinand] Marcos," he said.