Farmers groups forge link with local government and NFA

There are 16 farmer organizations and 139 individual farmers who participated in the marketing tie-up between legislators and the National Food Authority.

Department of Agriculture regional director Eduardo Lecciones said the province of Negros Oriental is one of the local government units required to produce 10,000 bags of rice under the Palay Marketing Assistance for Legislators and Local Government Units (PALLGU) program.

On top of the NFA support price for palay of P10 per kilogram, legislators and LGUs shall provide additional premium of at least P1 per kilogram.

Negros Oriental Governor George Arnaiz for instance allocated a premium of P1 million or an additional P2 for every kilogram on top of the support price.

The LGUs and legislators will have the right to buy the stocks bought under the PALLGU from NFA.

NFA shall assist the LGUs and legislators in sourcing their rice requirements using the food agency's networks.

Under the program, only palay farmers' organizations and individual farmers who are holders of an NFA passbook shall be qualified as sellers, while only LGUs and legislators shall be the qualified buyers.

Other than Oriental Negros, South Cotabato also participated under PALLGU with rice requirements of 20,000 bags.

Their governor provided of P1.5 million for its rice requirement bringing the buying price of palay to P11.50

The said effort is aimed to maximize the income of palay farmers nationwide.