Farmers’ group sees Filipinos still grappling with high rice price in 2024

Rice composite image by DANIELLA MARIE AGACER from INQUIRER file and stock photos

MANILA, Philippines – In light of looming threats, a peasant group predicts the price of rice in the Philippines will still be high in 2024.

Federation of Free Farmers Board Chairperson Leonardo Montemayor made the forecast in a radio interview on Monday.

“In general, mananatiling mataas palagay ko [ang presyo ng bigas]. Kasi in the first place ay naging mahal po kasi ang presyo ng palay nitong huling anihan,” said Montemayor over Radyo 630.

(In general, I think the price of rice will remain high. Because in the first place, the price of unhusked rice became expensive this last harvest.)

Montemayor then noted the price of rice abroad is still high as well.

He added Philippines imports about 20 percent of its rice supply.

“And then, there will be El Niño this early 2024, so I won’t be surprised or let’s not be surprised if the price of rice is a bit higher,” he added, partly in Filipino.

Montemayor warned government needs to monitor its supply of rice.

Despite statements from Department of Agriculture that there will be no rice shortage, Montemayor said government must be certain this will really be the case.

“Ang kondisyon noon ay ‘yung papasok ang inaasahan nilang importasyon,” he recalled.

(The condition at that time was that they expected imports to come in.)

“So, bantayan po natin para matiyak natin na hindi tayo magkakaroon ng kanipisan sa ating supply ng bigas,” he pointed out.

(So, let’s keep an eye on it so we can make sure that we won’t have a shortage in our rice supply.)