Manila, May 19 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is investigating alleged unscrupulous traders who may have taken advantage of local rice farmers amid the peak harvest season.

This came after reports of procurement from local farmers went as low as PHP13 per kilogram to PHP15 per kg of palay (unhusked rice) in select areas in Luzon.

This is significantly lower than the National Food Authority's (NFA) price range set at PHP18 to PHP24 for clean and dry palay.

"Iniimbestigahan na ng opisina ng DA kung sino iyong mga traders na bumili na iyon (The office of the DA is already investigating these traders who procured at that price) because we have to identify them. Basically, may imbestigasyon na nangyayari ngayon (the...