CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Palay prices have started to decline by an average of at least one peso per kilo as farmers who engaged in early planting for the dry cropping season began harvesting their crops.

Palay and rice traders at the Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park in Bocaue, Bulacan, two major rice trading centers in Luzon, confirmed to ARKIPELAGO NEWS that palay prices averaged ₱31–₱32.50 as of Friday but dropped to an average of ₱30 per kilo yesterday (Saturday).

Current palay prices from local traders remain well above the government-support buying price of ₱23.00 per kilo set by the National Food Authority (NFA).

Private traders noted that rice crops planted earlier for the dry cropping season have started being harvested in parts of Ilocos, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan provinces.

On the other hand, NFA administrator Larry Lacson confirmed that palay prices from private traders, averaging ₱31–₱32, are indeed above their procurement price.

As the dry season harvest peaks, the NFA expects palay prices to settle between ₱21–₱23 per kilo, which Lacson said would be beneficial to both farmers and rice consumers.

The NFA administrator added that they do not expect palay prices to fall again to ₱10 per kilo for fresh palay, as happened during last year’s dry cropping season. He emphasized that the Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring the country’s rice industry.

He added, “hindi totoo na dagsa na ang [dating] ng imported [rice], in fact wala pa sa kalahati ang dumating na imported versus sa volume na inaasahan.”

Meanwhile, NFA Bulacan manager Rhona Talens said that based on their monitoring, palay prices at the Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park in Bocaue town have slightly declined, saying, “maaaring dulot ng expectation ng pagdating ng imported rice at ng papasok ng local harvest.”

Jeoffrey Paraton, NFA Central Luzon director, said, “our buying price at the moment is P23 [per kilo] for and dry [palay].”

He added, “NFA is preparing for the upcoming dry harvest season by creating the much needed space in their warehouses for the farmers’ produce.”

📷 Mon Lazaro