Farmers in the Davao region are struggling with high fuel costs needed for land preparation as the planting season begins.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Filipinos consume between 30,000 to 37,000 metric tons of rice daily, amounting to more than 14 million metric tons yearly as rice remains the country’s staple food.

A farmer, Aladin Diana, is facing difficulty in the planting season after he recently completed harvest.

He said it is not the hard work that weakens him, but the rising prices of petroleum products as tractors cannot operate without diesel.

An official of the Department of Agriculture-Davao (DA-11) warned that fewer farmers may plant this season due to high fuel prices.

“Sa land preparation pa lang daan, kinahanglan kaayo nato ang fuel. So kung mahurot ang supply or pareha ani, nitaas na gyud ang presyo, di na gyud makaya sa farmer. So gamay na lang nga farmers ang motanom,” DA-11 Fuel Subsidy Program Senior Agriculturist, Leorence Nasol, said.

Because of this, the agribusiness sector in Davao City also expressed concern as high fuel and fertilizer costs may trigger “supply shock.”

“The harder concern especially those of us in the agribusiness is LPG and fertilizer. Fertilizer is at risk of doubling according to food and agriculture organization they are warning us of 800 dollars per metric tons. If that happens during the planting season, we are looking at a supply problem by the end of the year kung wala kang inputs lugi ang farmer lugi tayo walang maha-harvest. What I can say confidently is there will be a supply shock,” Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. Vice President for Agribusiness, Cherrilyn Casuga, said.

Based on inventory as of April 14, fuel supplies are dwindling: 40 days for diesel, 54 days for gasoline, 36 days for LPG, and 105 days for kerosene.

Rising production costs are also expected to affect prices of other commodities.

PSA data showed that inflation rate rose to 4.1 percent in March 2026 from 2.4 percent in February, the fastest increase since July 2024.

“This is a call for coordination with the government with DA and LGU on how we can bring in food from the farm going to market,” Casuga added.

In response, DA assured assistance amid the crisis.

“Kaya lang limitado ang pondo. Ang two hectares na rice farmers na beneficiary, mabibigyan ng P2300 each, 2.1 million yon, yon ang available pondo ngayon but meron pa tayong seven billion sa RCEP (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund). Nagrequest na rin ang DA ng QRF for fuel subsidy for the harvester hopefully makuha namin ng Mayo yon bago mag land preparation,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

Based on the registry system for basic sectors in Agriculture, more than 59,000 rice farmers are registered in the Davao region.

“Kining pag-implement sa fuel subsidy program, atoa gyud ning paspasan. Naga-ready na mi sa masterlist sa mga farmers 8:30 Kung nakadawat na siya sa lahi nga assistance, dako-dako og amount, dili na siya makadawat diri sa fuel. P5,000 per farmer po,” Nasol said.