NFA Palay Buying Price 2026 — Farmers Can Now Sell Clean, Dry Palay at Up to ₱30 per Kilo
NFA PALAY BUYING PRICE 2026 – Rice farmers who still have harvest to sell can now get as much as ₱30 per kilogram for clean and dry palay from the National Food Authority (NFA), which has also more than doubled the volume it will buy from each farmer to as many as 500 bags per cropping season.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced the changes on November 8, 2026, saying the move aims to raise farm incomes and build up the government’s rice reserves ahead of a potentially strong El Niño.
According to NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, around 80 percent of the agency’s branches across the country are already buying clean and dry palay at ₱30 per kilo. The lowest buying price being offered is ₱28 per kilo.
This is a big jump from mid-year. BusinessWorld noted that in July, the NFA’s palay buying price was set at ₱21 per kilogram.
How Much Will the NFA Pay for Your Palay?
The price depends on how dry your palay is. The NFA considers palay “clean and dry” if its moisture content is between 11 and 14 percent. Freshly harvested palay, which still has more moisture, is bought at a lower price. Lacson estimated the discount at about ₱4 per kilo.
| Type of Palay | NFA Buying Price per Kilo |
|---|---|
| Clean and dry (11% to 14% moisture) — about 80% of NFA branches | ₱30 |
| Clean and dry — lowest buying price offered | ₱28 |
| Fresh palay (based on a ₱30 dry-grain price) | around ₱25 to ₱26 |
To put it in perspective, selling 1,000 kilos of clean and dry palay at ₱30 per kilo comes to ₱30,000. At the July buying price of ₱21 per kilo, the same volume would have fetched only ₱21,000. The actual price you get will still depend on the NFA branch in your area and the quality of your grain.
New Selling Limit: Up to 500 Bags per Season
Aside from the higher price, the NFA has removed its old cap of 200 bags per farmer. Here’s how the new procurement limit works, based on the DA announcement:
- The limit is now computed by multiplying the average palay yield in your province by the area you farm.
- The farm area counted is capped at five hectares.
- A farmer tilling three hectares can sell a volume equal to three times the provincial average yield.
- A farmer tilling five hectares can potentially sell 500 bags or more if local productivity is higher.
Why the NFA Is Buying More Palay
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the higher price and bigger buying limit are meant to give farmers better returns and keep them planting despite the weather risks.
“Even with a strong El Niño looming, we want to encourage them to keep planting because the country will need every kilogram of rice they can produce,” Tiu Laurel said, as quoted by The Philippine Star.
The palay that the NFA buys will also support the government’s Benteng Bigas Meron Na subsidized rice program and emergency rice distribution during typhoons, droughts and other disasters, the DA said.
Here are the other key points of the NFA’s buying program:
- Procurement target: 790,000 metric tons of palay this year, with the same volume planned for 2027.
- Mobile buying trucks: 150 customized mobile procurement trucks have been procured to reach farmers in remote areas, but these are still being built. Some deliveries are expected by December or early next year.
- Extra funds: Tiu Laurel has set aside an additional ₱10 billion that the NFA can tap for more palay purchases if needed.
Lacson urged farmers who are still harvesting to sell their palay to the NFA. For the exact buying price and requirements in your area, it is best to check with the nearest NFA branch office.
Are you a rice farmer planning to sell your harvest to the NFA? Have you also read about the DTI price freeze on 190 basic goods?
