DA: Rice import ban good for N. Mindanao farmers
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Department of Agriculture (DA) has noted significant gains in the income of palay farmers in Northern Mindanao since the rice importation moratorium was imposed by President Marcos on Sept. 1.
According to DA Regional Director Jose Apollo Pacamalaan, the farm-gate price of palay ranged from P17 to P23 per kilo after the rice import ban took effect, giving farmers a better profit margin, even as they continue to grapple with the high cost of production inputs.
Initially intended for 60 days starting Sept. 1 when Executive Order No. 93 was issued, the suspension of rice imports was later extended until Dec. 31 this year, under EO 102.
These issuances were prompted by the DA’s projected bumper harvest of 20.46 million metric tons this year, though this was trimmed in September to 20.39 million MT due to a series of typhoons that struck rice-producing regions of the country.
The four-month-long pause on rice imports was intended to help local farmers sell their palay at “fair and reasonable prices,” to enable the domestic market to absorb locally produced rice, and to stabilize rice prices, Pacamalan noted.
Prior to the import ban, palay farm-gate prices in Northern Mindanao ranged from P12 to P15 per kilo and farmers would rather keep their produce than sell either to the National Food Authority or traders, he added.
Bracing for lean months
Despite this boost to the earning capacity of farmers, Pacamalan admits, though, that the rice sufficiency level of the region is still at 83 percent, and the remaining 17 percent are largely filled in by imports.
This, he said, is one of the reasons why they have been promoting carbohydrate substitutes, such as corn, banana, sweet potato, and other root crops. “Lean months will start in January, then the country needs to import rice,” Pacamalan pointed out.
Without imported rice, the region has a buffer stock good for only 31 days, compared to 89 days when imported rice is sold in the domestic market, alongside the inflow of local supply during the September to December harvest season.
In its price index of selected crops on Dec. 17, the DA regional office posted online that the average price of well-milled local rice was P45.47; regular milled rice, P40.56; and imported well-milled rice, P43.10.
