By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking into the possibility of imposing a minimum buying price or “floor price” for paddy rice among traders or middlemen in a bid to ensure local rice farmers can sell their harvest at fair prices.

At a news forum in Quezon City, DA Marketing and Consumers Affairs Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra bared that traders are buying palay at unreasonable low prices going as low as “P11 or P12.” 

“So, magkakaroon tayo ng minimum buying price para madiktahan natin not only si NFA (National Food Authority) but also rice traders buying from our local farmers,” Guevarra said.

The DA official said the “floor price” for palay is targeted to be implemented before the end of the year.

“That’s also one of the [things] na tinitignan natin na makakasupport po na magkakaroon tayo ng minimum buying price…,” she said.

Last month, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. traders in at least 32 areas in Luzon are being probed for supposedly buying palay from local farmers at a very low price.

Asked if cases would be filed against these traders, Tiu Laurel said there are none at the moment, but the DA is looking into imposing a floor price in the future.—VAL, GMA Integrated News

Published Date: June 7, 2025