The National Food Authority (NFA) is now eyeing more infrastructure enhancement projects to reach its ambitious 100-day buffer stock target as part of its modernization program.
Under the said initiative, NFA will build additional facilities and pursue developments, including post-harvest storage and processing structures.
It noted the said facilities will be powered with renewable energy sources, such as biomass and solar batteries.
The agency made the announcement during the 51st anniversary celebration last Tuesday at the NFA Multipurpose Hall in Quezon City.
Currently, NFA’s rice buffer stock capacity is only at 300,000 metric tons (MT), which will be sufficient for about 9 days based on the country’s demand for the food staple.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said he is confident NFA could achieve its high buffer stock goals especially as the agency launched its new farm innovation, which aims to boost the productivity of farmers.
He cited NFA’s coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the implementation of the Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry (SARAI) in the Philippines Project .
Under SARAI, the government issues a national crop forecasting and monitoring system for nine priority crops namely, rice, corn, banana, coconut, coffee, cacao, sugarcane, tomato, and soybean.
“Through this, we will be intensifying our efforts in providing smart and sustainable solutions for a more productive and proactive farming,” the chief executive said in his speech for the anniversary event, which was read by Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban.
To help in its rice procurement from local farmers, NFA signed credit line agreements with the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
Following the implementation of the Republic Act No. 11203, NFA can no longer replenish rice buffer stock through importation. Instead, it was restricted to buying locally harvested rice for the said purpose.
