SL AGRITECH CORPORATION "Kapihan sa Annabel's"

The plight of farmers in the country take center stage at the Kapihan sa Annabel's moderated by journalist Wilson Lee Flores.

Rice farmers have been complaining of losses arising from the disastrous drop in palay prices as a result of the implementation of Rice Tariffication Act with the prices hitting rock bottom at P12 per kilo as against the mandated price of P17 of the National Food Authority.

The Rice Tariffication Act, which was meant to alleviate the plight of farmers, have been blamed for the drastic decline in palay prices during the last harvest season as cheap rice prices fiooded the country.

Farmers were caught unaware by the surge in rice supply brought about by the opening of
rice imports as the necessary mechanism that was supposed to be put in place was nowhere to be found.

For instance, the NFA was not able to buy palay prices at the mandated prices as farmers
were left to the tender mercies of palay traders who bought at much lower prices than those set by the NFA.

In the forum, Joey Concepcion, presidential adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo
founder, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan, Sonny Ordoñez Chairman of Alyansa Agrikultura and PCAFI member, and Dr. Henry Lim bon Liong, Chairman and CEO of top hybrid rice producer SL Agritech, discussed the looming crisis that has hit the agriculture sector, especiaily the rice farmers.

The forum also tackled the measures that are being put in place to help the farmers
caught in the crossfire of low palay prices and big volumes of rice imports. The forum guest also gave new insight on the problem besetting the rice farmers and draw solutions for their benefit.