NFA Buys Palay At P12.00/kg

By JUDITH T. TINDOG

The National Food Authority (NFA) in Aklan welcomes farmers provincewide who may sell their palay produce to the NFA warehouse in Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan or thru its Mobile Procurement Team anytime of the year particularly this main cropping season.
According to Provincial Manager Pablito G. Gemarino, the P12.00 per kilogram maximum buying price is for clean, white and with 14 percent moisture content palay sold by Farmer Organization/Cooperative delivered to the Aklan Grains Center Warehouse in Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan. On the other hand, individual farmers can avail of the P11.75 per kilogram maximum for palay of the same quality and delivered thru in-warehouse transaction.
FOs/Cooperatives and individual farmers who may sell thru the NFA Mobile Procurement Teams fielded in the different production areas in Aklan will not be entitled to the delivery incentive of P0.10 per kilogram. In-field procurement buying price is set at P11.90 per kilogram for Fos/Cooperatives and P11.65 only per kilogram for individual farmers.
The new palay buying price includes support price (year-round) of P11.00 per kilogram. Farmers will be paid Delivery Incentive of P0.10 per kilogram for palay delivered in Aklan Grains Center Warehouse, Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan, Drying Incentive for palay with 14 percent moisture content or less and Cooperative Development Incentive of P0.25 per kilogram for palay of FOs/Cooperative with 18 percent Moisture Content or less. Farmers are paid the La Niña Incentive Fee (LNIF) of P0.50 per kilogram applied to all palay deliveries with 14 – 24 percent MC level and 85 – 100 percent purity. The paying of LNIF took effect on November 19, 2007 to be implemented for the duration of the La Niña phenomenon projected by the PAG-ASA to end on March 31, 2008.
According to DA Sec. Arthur C. Yap, the recent development in the NFA palay procurement, particularly the 10 percent increase in palay support price from P10.00/kg to P11.00/kg is seen to boost the farmer’s enthusiasm to produce more, especially with the use of high-yielding hybrid seeds and better inputs, knowing that the government is here to ensure the viability of their toil. NFA Administrator Jessup P. Navarro believes that the move will boost market participation of the NFA nationwide, improve the farmer’s income and enable them to meet the rising cost of farm inputs.
The use of Master/Farmer’s Passbook is required from the farmer–seller. The requirement, however, is dispensed with in the first palay delivery of 50 bags or less. Farmers who has no passbook are enjoined to secure it at the NFA local Office. The passbook is subjected for revalidation every cropping season.
The NFA office is offering mechanical drying services to needy farmers at a minimal fee especially for those who sell palay to the NFA. Those interested are advised to visit the local office in Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan. /MP