Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is continuously fine-tuning policies to ensure food prices remain fair for consumers while allowing farmers to earn a reasonable profit, amid recent spikes in rice and onion prices.
Recent reports show rice and onion prices climbing in the market, even as farm gate prices for onions remain depressed. Palay (unmilled rice) prices, however, have improved following the end of the four-month rice import ban on December 31.
Market analysts attributed the rise in rice prices to supply fluctuations and logistical bottlenecks that delayed the arrival of imports, while onion prices have surged due to delayed release of imported stocks. Shipments expected in late December and early January were delayed by transshipment issues abroad and port closures during the December holiday from December 24 to January 5.
“The government is actively managing the situation to stabilize the market,” Tiu Laurel said, underscoring the DA’s mission to cultivate a market where farmers can thrive and families can eat well.
“Our goal is to strike a balance to ensure farmers recover their costs, while consumers can access rice and onions at reasonable prices,” said Tiu Laurel.
He projected that rice prices are likely to normalize by mid-March with the arrival of imports and the start of the new harvest season. To ease supply pressures, the DA is accelerating the rollout of its Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program in key cities.
This initiative aims to provide affordable rice for consumers while supporting farmgate prices for rice farmers.
“This is a critical measure to balance production costs and consumer affordability,” Tiu Laurel added. Onion growers in Nueva Ecija have recently blamed imports for low farm gate prices.
However, inspections of cold storage facilities revealed limited stocks of imported onions, suggesting other market factors are at play.
The DA is now evaluating policy measures to lift onion farmgate prices before local production peaks in March and April.
The DA’s dual strategy of supporting farmers while protecting consumers is a delicate balancing act. Rising food prices strain household budgets, but prices that are too low can hurt growers and reduce production incentives, threatening long-term food security.
Careful monitoring and timely interventions, Tiu Laurel said, will be key in ensuring that both farmers and consumers benefit in the weeks ahead.
