The Provincial Government has purchased wet palay from local rice farmers, preventing the crops from being sold as livestock feed.

According to Cesar Sigua, a farmer from Barangay Sta. Isabela in Cabiao, he was prepared to sell his newly harvested but wet palay to a duck raiser for only P6.70 per kilo.

Instead, through the Provincial Food Council, the provincial government bought his palay for P15 per kilo—an increase of P8 per kilo.

Sigua expressed his gratitude to Governor Aurelio Umali, saying he had been on the verge of giving up farming to work in construction.

“Maraming maraming salamat po sa iyo at sa inyong pamilya. Napakalaking bagay po ang pagbili niyo ng palay naming magsasaka, kumbaga po sinagip mo ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka sa Cabiao,” he said.

The Provincial Food Council is open to all farmers in Nueva Ecija and operates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.

Farmers interested in selling their palay can contact 0962 180 6050 or 0956 189 8957. They are required to submit the following details: full name, cellphone number, address, area of farmland, date of harvest, harvest area size, and harvest volume.