By CESAR JOLITO III

Rice prices across Negros Occidental have increased in recent weeks, offering higher returns for farmers but also exposing them to mounting production costs driven by rising fuel prices.

Pedro Limpangog, president of the Farmers and Irrigators Association of the Philippines – Bacolod Rice Irrigators’ Service (FIACN-BRIS), said the price of both newly harvested and undried palay has climbed to around P25 per kilogram.

Other rice varieties are now being sold for as much as P34 per kilogram.

The current price levels mark a significant increase from previous months.

In December 2025, rice prices ranged between P17 and P20 per kilogram, while in February 2026, they averaged around P23 per kilogram.

Wholesale prices have also gone up, with premium-grade rice now selling between P2,300 and P2,400 per sack, reflecting stronger market demand and higher supply chain costs.

Despite the improved farmgate prices, Limpangog noted that many farmers are not fully benefiting from the increase due to rising production expenses.

Higher fuel prices have led to increased costs for fertilizers, irrigation, transportation, and farm machinery operations, significantly reducing profit margins.

He added that while the Department of Agriculture has announced a subsidy program intended to support farmers amid rising costs, the assistance has yet to be released.

Farmers, he said, continue to wait for the promised aid as financial pressures persist in the sector.

The situation underscores the ongoing challenge faced by agricultural producers, where gains from higher commodity prices are offset by escalating input costs, particularly in fuel-dependent farming operations./CJ, WDJ