Philippine agriculture department sets P42 per kilo rice price to balance farmer income and consumer affordability

The Philippine Department of Agriculture announced that a price of P42 per kilo for well-milled rice balances the needs of farmers and consumers. This price aims to ensure farmers receive fair income while keeping rice affordable for consumers. Current retail prices for well-milled rice in the Philippines range from P45 to P52 per kilo. This is lower than prices in Thailand and China, where rice costs between P44.47 and P132.7 per kilo. The government plans to import 4.5 million tons of rice due to recent typhoons affecting agriculture. Additionally, programs to provide affordable rice are being expanded to help more communities.