NFA steps up palay buying as buffer stock in Negros Occidental drops

BACOLOD CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental has intensified its palay procurement program to bolster its dwindling buffer stock, an official said on Thursday, Oct. 22.

NFA Negros Occidental Branch Manager Cherrybeth Gevero said  their buffer stock has critically dropped to one-day supply, far below the agency’s mandated 15-day reserve.

To rebuild the stock, the NFA aims to procure 100,000 bags of palay in Negros Occidental this year.

READ: Farmgate palay prices rebound after 4-month import halt — DA

“We are encouraging more farmers to sell their palay to the NFA to help us secure sufficient buffer stocks,” Gevero said, emphasizing that reserves are vital during disasters and emergencies.

The agency currently buys clean, dry palay with 11 percent to 14 percent  moisture content at P30 per kilogram.

Gevero noted that many local farmers struggle to meet quality specifications, likely due to a lack of post-harvest equipment such as mechanical dryers.

To support growers and boost procurement, the NFA is actively reaching out to farming communities and providing transport vehicles to collect purchased palay directly from farms.

The intensified procurement drive also aims to cushion the impact of the anticipated Super El Niño on local rice farmers.