Business · Philippines Bureau
NFA ramps up rice procurement as Negros Occidental stocks plummet
The National Food Authority has accelerated palay purchases in Negros Occidental after buffer stocks dropped to critically low levels. Current reserves stand at just one day's supply, well below the agency's 15-day minimum requirement.
LSN Philippines ·
BACOLOD CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) is intensifying its rice procurement efforts in Negros Occidental to replenish depleted emergency stores, an official disclosed this week. The agency's buffer stock in the province has fallen to just a one-day supply, creating concerns over food security and price stability in the region.
NFA Negros Occidental Branch Manager Cherrybeth Gevero said the dramatic decline in reserves has prompted the agency to prioritize palay buying from local farmers and traders. The current stockpile is substantially below the NFA's mandated 15-day buffer, which serves as a safeguard against supply disruptions and price volatility in the local market.
The procurement push aims to restore adequate reserves that can help stabilize rice availability and prices for consumers across the province. Officials did not specify the timeline for restoring stocks to mandated levels or the volume of palay the agency plans to purchase.