Higher production costs, low govt buying price add to rice crisis spectre

rice

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Because of the Rice Tariffication Act’s (RTA) provision that the National Food Authority (NFA) can only source rice from local farmers, the agency already scrapped its proposal to import 330,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Last week, Malacanang said the NFA suggested the importation of rice to cover an expected deficit in its buffer stock, or the optimal level that shall be maintained and used for relief programs.