NFA-Neg. Occ. prepares for El Niño
As PAG-ASA advised concerned agencies to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of El Niño episodes, the National Food Authority here is starting to implement measures to prepare for the phenomenon.
According to PAG-ASA advisory no. 5, the current El Niño episodes will likely to influence the country’s climate through the first half of the year as it has now reached a moderate strength.
Visayas and Mindanao can expect warmer than normal temperatures while Luzon is forecasted to have normal to slightly warmer surface air temperatures.
With this, NFA Negros Occidental is positioning its rice stocks in both Dancalan warehouse in the south and San Carlos warehouse in the north.
The agency is implementing another pro-active measure by starting to mill its palay stocks procured in 2009 so that rice supply can be dispatched anytime to deal with any emergencies.
Based on records, NFA-Negros Occidental has procured some 85,000 bags of palay in 2009, which is significantly higher than the 48,000 bags bought in 2008 due to the agency’s increase in the buying price of palay from local farmers.
“In 2008, traders offer a better buying price than NFA but in 2009, NFA bought palay at P17 per bag as per instructions from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” Assistant Provincial Manager Jose Pacificador said.
NFA buffer supply can last for 52 days with about 1.5 million bags now with the wholesalers, retailers and the millers’ control as well as those with NFA.
Some 100,000 bags of imported rice are expected to arrive next week while 260,000 more bags of imported rice are expected to arrive within the month.
“Our public is assured we have enough rice for the province since our imported rice is programmed to arrive every month with at least 100,000 bags per month” Pacificador told PIA.
In 2009, the total rice imported by NFA-Negros Occidental reached 670,000 bags. (PIA/EAD)
