Two farmers’ group on Saturday, April 12, criticized the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) for their “gross neglect” of rice farmers amid plummeting “palay (unmilled rice)” prices in major rice-producing provinces.

In a joint statement, Danilo Ramos, the chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and Cathy Estavillo of the Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women said the government has failed to protect farmers from abusive buying practices and worsening economic conditions in the countryside.

“Sa sobrang baba ng presyo ng palay, palagi na lang binabarat ang mga magsasaka. Sa Nueva Ecija at Isabela, umaabot na lang sa P14 hanggang P16 kada kilo ang bilihan ng palay. Sa iba pang lugar, mas mababa pa (Because palay prices are so low, farmers are constantly underpaid. In Nueva Ecija and Isabela, prices have dropped to just P14 to P16 per kilo. In other areas, it’s even lower),”Ramos said.

“Walang ginagawang kongkretong aksyon ang DA at NFA. Nasan ang sinasabi nilang suporta sa mga magsasaka (The DA and NFA are taking no concrete action. Where is the support they keep promising farmers)?”he went on.

Estavillo said the NFA’s failure to procure palay at a fair rate has left smallholder rice farmers at the mercy of private traders and rice cartels.

“Hanggang ngayon, walang malinaw na pahayag ang NFA kung bibili sila ng palay at magkano. Hindi puwedeng puro press release lang habang nagugutom na ang magsasaka (To this day, the NFA hasn’t made a clear announcement on whether it will buy palay or at what price. Press releases aren’t enough—farmers are going hungry),” she stated.

She noted that women farmers, in particular, are carrying a heavier burden amid the crisis, as palay prices continue to drop despite rising production costs.

They also criticized the DA’s proposal to set a floor price of P17 to P23 per kilo for palay. 

Ramos said that the lower end of the range would legitimize exploitation.

“Kung P17 ang ipapataw na floor price, hindi ito tunay na tulong. Sa totoo lang, lalo lang nitong gagawing legal ang pagbabarat sa amin (If they set the floor price at P17, that’s not real help. It just legalizes the underpricing),” he said.

Ramos said that the P17 is no longer enough, especially since the cost of production is now P18 to P21. 

He added that the floor price must be just and ensure profit, not just serve as a symbolic move from the DA.

Estavillo echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that vague assurances offer no real relief to struggling farmers.

The farmers’ groups urged the government to take immediate action by mandating the NFA to procure palay at no less than P23 per kilo, imposing limits on rice importation especially during the local harvest season, and increasing subsidies for key production inputs such as fertilizer, fuel, and seeds.

Also, the reiterated the need to shift away from import-dependence and toward food self-sufficiency.