Well-milled rice to reach P52; harvest 85 percent complete

MANILA, Philippines — The main harvest season for rice is 85 percent complete, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So said yesterday, noting that well-milled rice could reach P52 per kilo in December amid the high farmgate price of palay.

In a radio interview, So added that the harvest season is expected to be completed next month and the stocks could last until February 2024.

“We already harvested at least 85 percent and the remaining is about 15 percent. The farmgate palay is now at P28 per kilo and that equivalent to rice is about P52, P54 per kilo,” So said.

So has pushed for the return of the price ceiling amid the upward trend in the retail price of rice due to the high buying price of palay.

“We will return to that (higher retail price of rice). That is why last time, we warned that the retail price of rice will increase if the price ceiling is not reimposed,” So said, noting that in Isabela, the farmgate price of palay is at P28 per kilo.

So said the local government of Cebu is providing at least P30 per kilo over its decision to sell P20 per kilo of rice to consumers.

“(The P20 per kilo) is highly subsidized by the local government. We don’t know the volume the LGU will release as it needs to subsidize at least P30 per kilo as the buying price of palay in Cebu is also high at P26 per kilo and the LGU will only sell at P20 per kilo,” So explained.

So said the next palay harvest is expected in March 2024 as farmers have started to plant again.

“Many farmers planted again so the turnaround is faster. We expect to harvest again in March next year. Our stocks now will reach the end of February so we don’t see any problem (in the supply),” he noted.

Based on the monitoring of the DA, the retail price of local regular milled rice ranged between P41 and P45 per kilo; local well-milled rice, between P45 and P53 per kilo; local premium rice, between P50 and P60 per kilo and local special rice, between P50 and P65 per kilo.

Imported well-milled rice ranged between P45 and P48 per kilo; imported premium rice, between P47 and P58 per kilo and imported special rice, between P54 and P60 per kilo.

Meanwhile, So confirmed that the