The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) yesterday said the global price of rice is starting to go up as countries begin to stockpile on the supply of the grain.
This developed as Tugon Kabuhayan called for a more coordinated approach in curbing the effects of El Niño on local rice production.
Countries like China and Indonesia are buying up rice from traditional sources Vietnam and Thailand whose production are feared to decline because of El Niño.
Raul Montemayor, FFF convener, said free on board prices from Vietnam and Thailand have increased by five percent compared to their level in January to February.
Montemayor said this is about an additional P2 per kilogram on the landed cost of imported rice in Manila ports with tariff.
“If we will be hit by El Niño and our output will be slashed, we will need more imports, we will be affected by that pressure in international prices. As I said, most probably, this will happen next year although this year there are already slight movements, maybe there is still time to prepare,” Montemayor said.
But based on public markets monitoring by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the National Capital Region yesterday, the per kilogram (kg) price of imported rice range from P50 to P55 for special variety; P44 to P50 for premium and; P40 to P46 for well milled.
No data is available on the price of regular milled.
For local rice, special variety is at P48 to P60 per kg; premium at P42 to P50 per kg; well-milled at P38 to P46 per kg; and regular milled at P35 to P42 per kg.
Compared to the earliest monitoring of the DA for the year, the price of some rice varieties are higher by P2 per kg at most.
DA’s monitoring as of January 2, price range of imported rice for special variety is at P46 to P54 per kg; premium at P43 to P48 per kg; well-milled at P40 to P44 per kg; and P37 to P38 per kg for regular milled.
Meanwhile, for local rice, special variety is at P48 to P60 per kg; premium at P40 to P48 per kg; well-milled at P38 to P44 per kg; and regular milled at P35 to P40 per kg.
FFF said when the price of imported rice increases, that of domestic rice follows suit. While this will benefit farmers in terms of higher income, consumers take a hit.
The group said government should balance the interest of farmers and consumers in this case.
Meanwhile, Norbert Chingcuanco, Tugon Kabuhayan co-convenor, expressed concern rice farmers may be discouraged to plant on fears their crops will be damaged by drought.
“Most people think that El Niño is already here and therefore, no longer wants to plant palay. It is in contrast to what science and history is saying, El Niño will bring more rain before it starts and current forecast is reduction in rainfall will only be felt not until October,” Chingcuanco said.
Ann Solis, assistant weather services chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said by the end of the year, around 36 provinces may experience dry spell while two are expected to have drought.
Solis explained dry spell is a period of at least two months with 60 percent reduction in rainfall level or three months with 41 to 60 percent rainfall reduction. Drought occurs when more than 60 percent reduction in rain fall level is experienced for three to five months.
Lemnuel Aragones, professor at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology at the University of the Philippines, said a “legal instrument” that will assign meteorologists in each local government unit ( will help the country curb the negative effects of weather phenomenon.
Earlier, the DA warned that at least 46 provinces may experience below normal average rainfall, affecting crops like rice, corn and coconut and various fruit and vegetables due to El Niño.
The DA also recently reactivated its National El Niño Task Force and will enforce its enhanced El Niño Mitigation and Adaptation Plan.
