Manila, July 14 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to hold consultations with farmers and lawmakers in a bid to strengthen the government's response to unscrupulous rice traders.

The move came after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered on-the-ground consultations in preparation for the deliberations of House Bill No. 1 or the RICE Act that seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law and restore regulatory powers to the National Food Authority (NFA).

Tiu Laurel said consultations would help the government understand the challenges faced by farmers, especially amid allegations that the P20 rice program is causing a decline in palay prices.

"Some farmers claim that private traders are blaming the P20 rice program...