MANILA, Philippines—The National Food Authority (NFA) is increasing its procurement target for rice, before milling, for this year to 10 million 50-kilogram bags.

This is equivalent to some 500,000 metric tons, three percent of the target production of 17.3 million metric tons for the year.

Originally, the NFA was aiming for about 1.51 million bags, or 75,530 metric tons of rice, before milling. The volume paled in comparison to what it had imported, which reached 2.3 million metric tons as of June.

NFA Administrator Jessup Navarro expressed confidence the NFA could buy a bigger part of the country’s rice production particularly during the main harvest.

The NFA buys rice, before milling, at P17 a kilogram.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the buying at this price would be extended indefinitely to ensure that farmers make money out of their produce.

Navarro said, “We are encouraging farmers to sell their produce to NFA to help build up the government’s food security stocks. The farmers could also avail themselves of the post-harvest facilities which the agency offers for a minimal fee to help improve the quality of their produce.”