NFA buffer stock rises to a new record high

RICE IS LIFE A rice merchant sells affordable and quality rice at a stall in Marikina Public Market in Marikina City. The National Food Authority is increasing purchases of local palay to beef up its buffer stock. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The buffer stock of the National Food Authority (NFA) has risen to a record 7.56 million 50-kilogram bags of milled rice as of April 24.

This, as the agency ramped up purchases from local farmers to support the government’s emergency relief efforts.

In a statement on Friday, the NFA said the current stockpile was 5.4 percent higher than the previous record. That was at 7.17 million bags of milled rice as reported last April 11.

READ: Rice to be sold at P20/kg in the Visayas, says agri chief

“We still have about P12 billion allocated for palay procurement, and we intend to maximize purchases during the ongoing summer harvest,” NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said.

The current buffer stock is higher than the inventory of 5.7 million bags recorded in 2024. The inventory was pegged at 973,527 bags in 2023, 2.3 million bags in 2022 and 4.16 million bags in 2021.

Buffer stock

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said increasing the buffer stock was needed to ensure the successful implementation of the P20 per kilo rice program launched this week.

This is not only to finally make the campaign promise of President Marcos a reality. It is also needed to free up storage space as the NFA continues buying palay.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the grains agency is required to maintain an optimal level of national rice inventory. This is intended to be distributed during emergency or calamity situations and sustain the government’s disaster relief efforts.

15 days’ worth of grains

The amended RTL, signed last December, increased the mandated national rice buffer stock to 15 days from nine days previously. It should be sourced solely from domestic farmers.

The NFA is no longer allowed to sell rice directly to the public.

However, the Department of Agriculture may release NFA rice stocks during food security emergency.

Since the RTL’s enactment in 2019 and before heightened procurement efforts, the DA said the NFA’s inventory has steadily declined. It has sank to an “alarming” 41,285 metric tons, just enough to cover one day of national consumption.