President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is committed to bring down the price of rice but his target of P20 per kilo would be very “difficult” to realize, according to incoming agrarian reform secretary Conrado Estrella III.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar meanwhile said rice at that price will require additional budget and a long-term plan as production cost is expected to increase.
Estrella in an interview said rice prices can be brought down to a realistic level of P27 to P28 per kilo.
He added he would study how the P20 per kilo goal of Marcos can be attained.
According to Estrella, the incoming administration vows to help increase the income and livelihood of farmers through the use of latest technology in agriculture. It also plans to give farmers additional livelihood training such as animal raising and help them own the lands they till.
Estrella, the Abono Partylist Representative at present, accepted on Wednesday Marcos’ offer for him to lead the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Meanwhile, Dar told the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday a prolonged Ukraine and Russia conflict will raise the cost of production of rice farming by P3.30 a kilo to P14.80 from P11.50.
The DA aims to increase in four years the average yield of inbred rice from 4.5 MT per hectare (ha) to 7.5 MT per ha and of hybrid rice from 6 MT per ha 10 MT per ha. However, this would need additional budget to fund fertilizer subsidies and infrastructure requirements.
To immediately lower rice prices, Dar said the incoming administration should consider restoring the National Food Authority’s role of selling subsidized rice to the poorest population especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.
