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‘Haan mi pay nabayadan dagijay inutang mi…kasanu kami payen’—Tabuk farmer cries foul over low palay prices and long wait at NFA

  • Writer:  Mark Moises Calayan
    Mark Moises Calayan
  • 4 hours ago
  • 3 min read

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Tabuk City, Kalinga - For a farmer in Lacnog, Tabuk City, the harvest season no longer brings the same joy it used to; instead of counting profits, he now counts his debts due to the low prices of palay (unmilled rice) and high prices of farm inputs. 


The farmer, who requested anonymity, told Guru Press Cordillera that after months of labor, most of their income only goes to paying debts and farm expenses, leaving little to nothing for their families. 


The farmer explained that because of the changing weather, their rice plants were severely affected, describing it as “Natungro,” or having been dried before maturity, greatly reducing their harvest. The cost of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides have increased, and thus they have no choice but to borrow more money. 


According to him, he needs at least eight sacks of fertilizer for every hectare of his rice fields. This costs him about P10,000, yet they can only sell their palay for as low as P10 - P12 if they cannot wait for the NFA to buy their palay. Their earnings barely cover their farming cost and they are trapped in the cycle of “utang”.


Continuing his explanation, he said many of them line up for hours at the NFA hoping to sell their produce at higher prices but often go home empty-handed because the office has limited warehouse space. If they can’t wait until the NFA resumes procurement, they have no choice but to sell their harvest at a lower cost. 


“Nagrigat sir, permi lugi mi. Permi rigat mi. Haan mi pay nabayadan dagijay inutang mi pang abono kada spray. Tata nga season, bassit ti naapit mi ta natungro dagijay pagay mi, epekto siguro daytoy ti aginit ti nakapugpudot tas bigla agtudo. Kasanu kami ngay metten? Haan umanay met ngay umay dayta assistance mga itited da. Ti kasapulan mi diay usto met ah nga presyo ti erik mi. ” added the man with a tone of disappointment. 


The Rice Tarrification Law as primary cause of why rice prices are low


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The situation of the Tabuk farmer mirrors the struggle of many small rice growers in Kalinga and other provinces. For them, the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) made things even harder. 


The law, authored by then-Senator Cynthia Villar, opened the country’s rice market to private importers, removing previous restrictions on rice importation in the country. While the law aims to make rice affordable for consumers, those who produce suffer the negative effects the most.


DA official says RTL still benefits farmers 


Amid these complaints, DA-CAR Regional Technical Director for Operations defended the RTL during the recent turnover of farm machinery to Cordillera farmers in Kalinga. 


In his talk, the official said the law still benefits farmers, as the collection from the tariffs goes back to them through the farm machinery and other support programs. 


“Sa tingin ko naman ay maraming naitulong sa mga farmers. It's not a totally useless…dagiti maurnong nga kuwarta ti importation or “tarrif” ket agsubli wenno mausar nga mapan kadagiti rice farmers. Isu dagitoy farm machineries and equipment nga mait-ited,” said Daguio. 


Despite his defense of the law, Daguio said he is aware of the lapses, which the Tabuk farmer mentioned. Thus, he assured that the DA remains open to listening to the farmers’ sentiments and is committed to finding ways to help them. 


For now, rice farmers wait for better prices, better seasons, and better days ahead, as the farmer in Lacnog said, “Awan choice mi sir nu saan nga aganus, urayen nga ngumato ti presyo ti irik.”

 
 
 

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