MANILA, Philippines — The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has proposed the implementation of seasonal tariffs on imported rice to protect local farmers and manage the influx of imported grain.
The proposal suggests imposing higher tariffs before and during the harvest season, particularly from March to April, to mitigate the negative impact on local farmers.
The group believes that seasonal tariffs would help maintain fair market conditions for domestic rice producers.
The group further asserts that the temporary increase in tariffs would not only protect local farmers but also stabilize the local rice market.
This action aims to prevent the oversupply of imported rice, ensuring that local farmers can sell their produce at competitive prices.
In conjunction with this proposal, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) has submitted a petition to revert rice tariffs to higher rates.
Sinag emphasizes that the current reduced tariffs have not resulted in significant reductions in retail rice prices, thus affecting both consumers and producers.
The proposed seasonal tariffs come in response to recent changes in tariff policies, which lowered rates with the intent to reduce rice prices for consumers.
However, according to the FFF and Sinag, the lowered tariffs have not achieved the intended consumer benefits and have instead put pressure on local farmers.
Local farmers have expressed concern over the continuing influx of imported rice and its implications on their livelihoods.
They argue that without appropriate protective measures, the stability of the domestic rice industry could be jeopardized.
