Several farmers in Alabel, Sarangani have turned to selling balut to make ends meet due to the lower farmgate price of unmilled rice or palay.

One of these farmers is Bobot Manga of Barnagay Ladol. He said his daily income from rice farming is no longer enough to cover basic expenses.

He added that the buying price of unmilled rice is currently at P14 per kilo, lower than the P20 per kilo in 2024.

“Palit diri 14 na lang ang kilo sa humay, mao ng nag sideline na lang mi og balot para makadugang sa inadlaw nga pagpamugas,” Manga said.

Some rice traders from General Santos City, who buy palay from farmers in the area, said sluggish sales of milled rice in the market forced them to lower their buying prices.

“Tungod kay ang bugas man gud namu diri karon dili na kaayo kusug ang halin tungod sa mga kompetisyon sa gawas. Imported gyud nakadaot sa presyohanay namu diri karun,” rice trader, Bobby Panlaque, said.

Traders also expressed concern that prices may continue to drop once the government rolls out the P20 per kilo rice in the market.

“Musamut na kini kababa, kung dili ni kagawas ang among mga gipalit kay naa na pud mubu nga presyo, tan-awun basig mag stop buying pud,” Panlaque added.

This possibility has worried the farmers.

“Nabalaka gud me siyempre pareha anas gasto namu financing namu lugi pirmi,” Manga said.

According to the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, farmers are not limited to selling to traders as the National Food Authority (NFA) still offers a higher buying price.

“Kasi as far I know nasa 18 pesos parin si NFA for example ang ating fresh palay ang buying price. Para sa trader hindi kasi nakaka-penetrate ng masyado yung ang ating trader at hindi  masyado nakamanipulate yung presyo kasi nga naregulate ng government when it comes to contract with NIA,” Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Head, Giselle Gestupa, said.

Another farmer who requested anonymity said that the rising cost of farm inputs like fertilizers also affects the production cost.

“Ang abono pwerte man pud mahala ang medisna mahal pud, sora libo na daan anf sako sa abono,” the farmer said.

However, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist said interventions are in place.

“Honestly its beyond our control kasi sa market po yan, yung intervention na lang po ng government for that in coordination with that PHILRICE, NIA, DA, is ma subsidize yung kanilang farm inputs. Kaya nga meron tayong RSBSA o Registry System for Basic Sectors for Agriculture paran ma properly profile natin kung sino yung sila,” Gestupa said.