NFA defends sale of cheap rice; farmers slam mafia’

The National Food Authority yesterday defended the sale of rice to some traders, saying the NFA is allowed to dispose of aging stocks amid the alleged anomalous sale of rice to traders.

- BELLA CARIASO

“The NFA Council allows the NFA management to dispose of aging stocks up to 10 percent lower than the mandated price and the damaged stocks,” the NFA said in a statement.

“The current NFA management was able to responsibly dispose of its rice stocks to government accounts by stretching to maximum shelf-life, minimizing the sale of residual volume to other accounts by implementing stricter guidelines and safeguards,” the NFA added.

The NFA said the agency is mandated to keep and dispose of 99.9 percent stocks in good and consumable condition.

“The rice we are selling are all sold at the mandated selling price P25 per kilo, although aging stocks need to be remilled before they could be released to the consumers,” it said.