Eastern Pangasinan farmers slam NFA
FOR DELAYS IN PALAY PURCHASE
FARMERS in eastern Pangasinan denounced the National Food Authority’s (NFA) protocol that leaves them waiting for days or even weeks before they can bring their palay to sell to the agency.
Abe Belena, president of the San Quintin Irrigators Association, said the Authority to Deliver (ATD) being issued by NFA is discriminatory and a big inconvenience and disservice to farmers. He said under the system, those who cannot afford to wait for their turn to sell their palay to the government agency are forced to sell to commercial traders who pay only P16 to P17 per kilo for newly harvested palay, and P18 to P20 per kilo for dry palay.
In contrast, the NFA buys palay at P24/kg with its P16.3 billion budget for palay purchase nationwide.
The farmers’ group particularly slammed the NFA buying station in San Quintin that closed its palay buying operation at a time when farmers are harvesting their second crop.
He also noted that many farmers need to immediately sell their harvest since there are no storage facilities available to them.
The NFA is also burdened by a lack of warehouse space.
In Pangasinan, Belena said, all NFA warehouses except one that is under repair, and are full and had stopped buying palay.
NFA’s warehouses are in Rosales, Asingan, Binalonan, Mangatarem, Mangaldan and Alaminos City, which is under repair, while its buying station in San Quitin was closed for a still unknown reason.
The only warehouse currently open for palay-buying is in Mangaldan town. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
