The National Food Authority (NFA) can now buy freshly harvested or wet palay for the first time, freeing farmers from having to sell cheaply to traders when they need to move their grain quickly after harvest, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson made the disclosure in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on July 18, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series.
He said the NFA is building 36 new facilities with drying capabilities nationwide to make this possible.
“Ang epekto nito, yung ating mga magsasaka hindi na siya parang hawak sa leeg ng ating mga traders,” Lacson said.
He explained that before this program, farmers with wet palay had to sell immediately—and traders took advantage of the urgency.
“Babaratin ka ngayon ng trader. Eh kung meron kang option na NFA, malapit sa iyo may drying facility, mas mataas mong maibebenta,” Lacson said.
When traders were buying at ₱12 per kilo, NFA was buying at ₱21 to ₱22—and up to ₱30 for dry palay.
The NFA has also implemented a purchase order system—allowing farmers to pre-register their expected harvest before planting season ends.
Farmers agree on a delivery date and minimum price in advance, giving them income security before they even harvest.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel said the government’s role is not to profit—but to protect farmers.
