DA wants expanded NFA purchasing powers for food security

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is proposing to Congress the restoration and expansion of the National Food Authority's (NFA) purchasing powers to bolster food security and safeguard farmers' earnings.

This initiative is part of proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, embodied in the new RICE Act bill filed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The proposed legislation aims to empower the NFA to buy palay, milled rice, and corn directly from local farmers and cooperatives.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the importance of corn, not only as a rice substitute but also as a crucial component for the country's feed production for the poultry and livestock sectors, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision of a food-secure nation.

Corn plays a significant role in the feed industry, with yellow corn constituting a substantial portion of the feed used in livestock and poultry production.

Despite supporting over 1.1 million Filipino farmers, the current corn cultivation area is limited, yet it significantly contributes to the agricultural economy, ranking second only to rice in gross value added.