MANILA, April 22 -- The National Food Authority (NFA) implemented on Monday the new and higher buying price for play (unhusked rice) to help increase the country's national rice buffer stock and eliminate the single pricing nationwide.

The price range is now set at PHP17 to PHP23 per kilogram for fresh or wet palay; and PHP23 to PHP30/kg for clean and dry palay.

"This is unique in the sense that different provinces will have different prices depending on the conditions in the province such as prevailing farm gate price, remaining harvest, and most importantly the target palay procurement for the area," NFA officer-in-charge Administrator Larry Lacson said in a statement.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., likewise, said th...