NFA to add 200,000 MT in rice storage capacity

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said it will augment its storage capacity for rice by 200,000 metric tons (MT) within two years to enable more grain purchases from farmers.

- Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

It said it will also need more capacity to supply the government's P20-per-kilo subsidized rice program.

“We are modernizing. An additional capacity of 200,000 MT will be available in two years’ time,” NFA Administrator Larry del Rosario Lacson told BusinessWorld.

Mr. Lacson said the NFA is currently building more warehouses, acquiring additional equipment, and refurbishing current warehouses.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has been seeking the restoration of NFA’s power to intervene in the rice market by releasing grain to regulate prices. This power was removed with the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019.