BACOLOD City – Rice farmers in Negros Occidental are enjoying a plentiful harvest, according to Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.
Irrigated farms in the province yielded an average of 100 sacks of rice this quarter, which is comparably higher than the previous crop years, Masculino said.
He added that the price of rice in the market is doing well.
Traders are buying rice at an average of P23 per kilogram or more than P1000 per P50 kilogram.
“This is the first time in many years that rice farmers have experienced such bountiful harvest plus a high price for their produce,” Masculino stressed.
The downside of this is that consumers will have to pay higher despite the abundant harvest, the provincial agriculturist said.
The high price of rice is attributed to the lack of supply from the National Food Authority.
“Local rice production is sufficient enough to answer the needs of the province,” added Maculino./PN
