NFA sets higher-priced corn for Cagayan farmers

TUGUEGARAO CITY: The National Food Authority (NFA) Cagayan has announced the implementation of a two-tier pricing scheme for corn farmers in the province. Provincial Manager Armando Rey Villacorta said the two-level buying prices for clean and dry yellow corn grain took effect on September 14, 2009. The prices have been set at P12.30 per kilogram for 40 percent of the net marketable surplus volume and P10 per kilogram for 60 percent of the net marketable surplus volume of yellow corn to be sold to the farmers.

Villacorta elaborated that a farmer can sell 40 percent of, say, 150 bags of corn to NFA at a buying price of P12.30 a kilogram, but if the farmer wants to sell the remaining 60 percent, the buying price will be pegged at P10 a kilogram.

The agency has also enjoined the farmers to sell well-dried products to avail themselves of the 20-centavo per-kilogram delivery incentive for individual farmers, cooperatives and farmers organizations, while the cooperative’s development incentive is pegged at .30 centavos a kilogram.

Villacorta said the procurement of corn grains would be on a “first-come first serve” basis, adding the corn produce would be pre-classified before delivery to avoid unnecessary handling and transportation expenses on the part of the farmers.

The official also announced that the agency’s deadline of September 30, Wednesday for the filing of application for the farmers’ passbooks would be strictly imposed.

Passbooks are needed to accommodate the farmers’ corn produce to be sold to NFA accordingly. –Jun Marcos Tadios, Manila Times