LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) - The National Food Authority (NFA) Ilocos Norte is continuing their palay procurement operation to help Ilokano farmers.

In an interview with NFA Ilocos Norte Acting Branch Manager Engr. Jonathan Corpuz, he said that the aim of the operation is to have sufficient stocks of palay solely procured from local farmers.

He explained that the palay procurement is a continuous program to help farmers, especially during wet cropping season in the months of September to December.

The palay procurement operation of NFA is to ensure that farmers will have a ready market for their crops that will assure them of reasonable income.

NFA directly buys palay from individual farmers and farmer organizations or cooperatives.

Corpuz also said that farmers who want to sell their palay should bring their Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) stub for verification.

He also added that the province has sufficient buffer stock of palay.

“We have 40,277 bags of palay and 34,145 bags of rice stored in our warehouses in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra,” Corpuz said.

Moreover, he also stated that there is no ongoing importation on NFA; palay stocks are from the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra.

Also, he said that NFA rice is not available in the market, but is available for public sectors such as local government units (LGUs), Philippine Red Cross, and other public sectors for relief operations. (JCR/MJTAB/IJUG-Intern PIA Ilocos Norte)