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MANILA — The Department of Agriculture on Monday said it is investigating several traders in Luzon for buying rice from farmers at a very low price.

The DA is in the process of identifying these traders who have been buying rice from farmers between P13 and P15 per kilo, Agriculture Secretary Francsico Tiu Laurel said in a press conference in Malacañang.

“Mayroon na kaming listahan ng areas na talagang mababa ang bili ni traders sa mga farmers,” he said.

“We have 32 areas sa Luzon na nakikita. Iniimbestigahan na ng DA kung sino ang mga traders na yun,” he said.

The DA has been trying to ensure that farmers do not sell their produce below their production cost to avoid bankruptcy or losses, the Agriculture chief said.

“Kami na ang pupunta doon [sa mga areas] next harvest season. Mayroon na kaming purchasing group so far na nakahandang tumakbo,” he said.

“Ang importante mamaintian natin yung planting intention,” he said.

The Agriculture department is also studying the possibility of imposing a floor price for rice, Tiu Laurel said.

“Naghahanap kami ng paraan legally. Baka maglabas kami ng policy in the future. Pinag-aaralan pa lang ito but the idea is to set a floor price,” he said, noting that the practice is already being done in other countries.

“We are checking kung kailangan daw ba nito ng batas or puwedeng department order na lang,” he said.

“Hopefully makahanap kami ng batas o ruling na kung hindi sumunod ang trader sa floor price.”

The DA earlier said that palay should be bought for at least P20 per kilo.

Source : msn