The Department of Agriculture (DA) has promised to help farmers lower their production costs in order to address the increasing market prices of rice.&nbsp;
DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said that the department is working closely with rice farmers, as prices have risen to as much as P5 per kilogram.&nbsp;
The department plans to distribute machinery and post-harvest facilities to assist farmers in reducing their costs of production.&nbsp;
"Tinitingnan ng ating kagawaran kung paano ba natin sila matutulungan kung paano pababain &lsquo;yung kanilang cost of production. &lsquo;Yung ating distribution po ng ating machinery not only for production po, but also for post-harvest facilities din po," she said.
Higher agricultural input costs and climate change have contributed to the rise in farm gate and market prices, according to Evangelista.&nbsp;
The Philippines is not the only rice-producing nation affected by the mounting production costs, as prices have also increased in other countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.&nbsp;
The market price of well-milled rice in the Philippines has increased to PHP42-43 per kilo, which is higher than the previous PHP37-38 per kilo.&nbsp;
However, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) expects a lower market price of rice for the next harvest due to a decline in input cost.&nbsp;
"&lsquo;Yung next season, we hope na itong October to December, pababa na &lsquo;yung presyo kasi &lsquo;yung pataba e bumaba na rin," SINAG chairperson Rosendo So said.
Around 60% of the production cost comes from farm input expenditures, which contributes to the movement of farm-gate and market prices.

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DA to aid farmers lower rice production cost