MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has secured commitments from rice millers and importers to continue supporting local farmers, with traders assuring the purchase of palay at no less than P17 per kilo for wet and P21 per kilo for dry, depending on quality, as the government fine-tunes rice import volumes.

During a meeting with industry stakeholders on Friday, millers from key rice-producing and trading areas provided updates on market conditions and inventory movements, noting that rice stocks remain tight as the sector transitions toward the incoming harvest season. Milling activities in several areas are now largely dependent on newly harvested palay.

Harvesting has begun in parts of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, with more areas—including Pangasinan, Ilocos, Bulacan, and La Union—expected to start harvesting by February. Larger harvest volumes are projected by mid-March, with milling activity expected to increase further by April.

With palay prices remaining firm due to seasonal supply conditions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) consulted importers on appropriate rice import volumes for February to help stabilize retail prices while protecting farmgate prices as the main harvest approaches.

Importers presented varying estimates on the volume of rice that could enter the country to ease price pressures. Despite differing views, traders from Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Pangasinan assured the DA they would continue purchasing palay at no less than P17 per kilo for wet and P21 per kilo for dry, even as imports arrive.

Tiu Laurel reiterated the government’s position, stressing that farmer incomes must be protected.

“Farmer prices are non-negotiable. Whatever import volume we agree on, farmers must be protected,” he said.

The agriculture chief also said the National Food Authority (NFA) will not compete with private traders, provided that buying prices remain at or above the agreed minimum levels. He added that rice tariffs will not be raised until February and that operational details will be carefully managed to avoid unnecessary market speculation.

Following the consultations, the DA said an initial import volume of about 300,000 metric tons is being considered for February, subject to continuing review based on market developments. Importers may begin applying for sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances, with shipments expected to arrive by early February.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will continue balancing rice imports with its mandate to protect farmer incomes while ensuring stable rice supply and prices.