Farmers in Santa Rosa are worried that palay prices may fall as the harvest season approaches.
They said traders may pass on the impact of rising fuel costs to farmers by lowering buying prices for palay.
Farmers said palay currently sells at around P26 to P27 per kilo, but prices could drop once harvesting begins from the last week of March until the end of April.
They also fear that any drop in farmgate prices could later affect rice prices in the market.
Farmers added they have limited options to cut costs, as reducing spending on fertilizer could hurt crop yield.
