The National Food Authority has relaxed its palay procurement standards ahead of the peak dry harvest, widening its buying window to help farmers cope with seasonal price declines.
During a consultation Feb. 23 at its central office, the NFA met with farmers, millers, retailers and field officials to review its standard operating procedures, resulting in revised buying rules shaped by feedback from stakeholders.
The agency expanded the acceptable moisture content range for dry palay to 11 percent to 14 percent, from the previous 12 percent to 14 percent requirement that had led to rejected deliveries. The adjustment is expected to allow more farmers to qualify for the higher procurement price.
The NFA kept its procurement prices at P17 per kilogram for fresh or wet palay and P21 per kilogram for dry palay, while refining its pest standard to require stocks to be “visibly free from pests.”
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the changes were timed to coincide with the harvest surge, when farmgate prices typically soften due to oversupply. He said broader specifications would allow the agency to absorb more volume and help farmers avoid distress selling.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who chairs the NFA Council, said the revisions align procurement policies with conditions on the ground. He cited the president’s directive to improve farmer profitability and reduce exposure to price swings, noting that stronger government buying supports both farm incomes and national buffer stocks.
The NFA said the updated rules position it as a more accessible buyer during peak harvest, when rice supply is at its highest.
