LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Feb. 28 (PIA) – The National Food Authority (NFA) in Ilocos Norte is taking its rice procurement efforts on the road with the launch of its new Mobile Rice Procurement Program.
This initiative aims to increase the province's rice buffer stock and ensure food security in case of emergencies.
NFA teams will be visiting farming communities throughout the province to directly purchase rice from local farmers.
This eliminates the need for farmers to travel long distances to sell their produce, saving them time and money.
NFA-Ilocos Norte branch head, Engr. Jonathan Corpuz said they are currently conducting scouting activities for farmers who are willing to sell their extra rice harvest.
For March, the NFA team will start scouting at the eastern part of Dingras, one of the agricultural municipalities of the province.
Corpuz added that interested farmers are highly encouraged to contact the NFA to request the conduct of a mobile palay procurement activity in their locality.
Currently, the NFA is storing a total of 539 bags of rice as well as an additional 814 bags from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
Corpuz said that this buffer stock is not enough for disaster relief for the province.
“I’ll be honest, the buffer stock we have right now is not enough in case there is a disaster like a typhoon, we won’t have enough to distribute. So, we are highly encouraging our farmers to sell to us their extra rice harvest, even how little it is,” he said.
