DAVAO CITY — North Cotabato rice farmers want the government to stop importing rice during the harvest season, making the later as their own competitor.
Ramon Macaraeg, a rice farmer and certified seed producer in an interview with Newsline said, farmers are always at the mercy of rice dealers “The government imports rice just in time for harvest season, they are competing with the farmers and the buying price right now is only P14/kilo to P14.50/kilo but the milled rice are sold at P36/kilo.”
Given the restrictions due to the pandemic, Macaraeg said, the farmers like him find time to focus on their farms “I expect high yield for my two-hectare rice fields but, the gate price is taking toll on us.”
The prices of farm implements and fertilizer soared during the planting season and during the harvest season, the buying price is very low he added.’
In June 2021, the United State Department of Agriculture said , “The Philippines is expected to be the second largest importer in 2021, and recently announced a change to its import tariffs that have the potential to shift its suppliers,” USDA said.
“Traditionally, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members Vietnam and Thailand have been the most prominent exporters [to the Philippines] given the proximity, established trade relationships, and ability of these countries to provide government-to-government agreements during the period of quantitative restrictions,” USDA added.
As it is now, China remains the World’s No. 1 rice exported.
Macaraeg said said the government should not import rice just in time for harvest season, because that will further push them to poverty.
He is asking the Agriculture department to limit importation during harvest season, for famers to experience fair market price of their produce.
