CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) here has encouraged farmers in Central Luzon to sell their palay (rice seed) damaged by the back-to-back typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” to the government office’s 58 stations and 12 mobiles in the region.

NFA Central Luzon Assistant Regional Director Angel G. Imperial, Jr. said that President Aquino has allowed his office to buy 208,000 bags of damaged rice seeds amounting to P99 million.

NFA will buy for P12 per kilo the storm-razed seeds with up to 40 percent damage; P9 per kilo for the 40-60 percent damage; and P7 per kilo for the seeds with 60-80 percent damage.

He said though that NFA will not buy rice seeds exceeding the 80 percent damage limit.

The recovered seeds will still be dried and sold, while the irredeemable will be ground and marketed as feeds to livestock owners, Imperial added.

Imperial explained that the program is actually a subsidy for rice farmers as the quality of the rice seed is poor and that the recovery rate is for the said playa is very low.

“So this is actually a subsidy. What’s important is the farmers get back their capital,” he said.

Imperial said, however, that no farmer has come to them to sell their damaged crops.

“We are always open, but as of now no farmers have come to our office to sell their palay,” he said.

Imperial added that farmers who wish to sell their storm-damaged palay may call NFA at (044) 600-0722.

Meanwhile, Imperial also assured the public that the rice supply of Central Luzon is sufficient enough to feed its 9.8 million people for about 74 days. He said the buffer stock holds 2.5 million bags of rice alone, but added with the stash from traders, warehouses, and homes, the region is estimated to have 4.8 million bags.