NFA checking possible switching of NFA rice

The National Food Authority is checking on possible switching done by retailers of the NFA rice sold in markets.

Edgar Diez, head of NFA-7 enforcement and investigation division, said their monitoring task force was directed to check on consumer complaints on very poor quality NFA rice.

According to the complaints, the NFA rice they brought was of poor quality and very broken contrary to the claim of NFA that their rice is regular well-milled.

Regular well-milled rice is 75 percent whole grain mixed with 25 percent broken rice.

Diez said NFA rice is actually of quality since these are imported and the broken rice mixed is negligible once the rice is poured out from the sack.

Another possible manipulation the task force is monitoring is the sale of NFA rice as a commercial rice with its corresponding expensive price.

He said this is very possible since NFA rice, which now comes from Vietnam, Thailand and China, can very well be mistaken as commercial rice like the Sinandomeng.

“Mas dako pa ang posibilidad nga ang NFA rice maoy isulod sa Sinandomeng tungod sa kanindot sa quality,” said Cebu Grain Retailers Confederation official Celiapo Cabuenas.

He said that NFA rice is the most in demand in the market today considering that it is imported and only costs P18.25 each kilo.

Cabuenas said the poorest quality commercial rice is still priced more than the NFA rice.

Unless the rice seller puts the NFA rice into a separate sack bearing the markings of an expensive commercial rice like the Sinandomeng, it will really mean a bigger profit for the seller.

“Kanang gipalit ninyo nga Sinandomeng, naa pay puruhan nga NFA rice na sya,” Cabuenas said.

Cabuenas said Grecon, along with NFA, is also policing their own members not to practice unfair acts. 

NFA is increasing its buying price of rice and added some incentives to encourage farmers to sell their produce to their agency.  — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP