APPEAL. Simeon Sioson (front), chairperson of the Federation of Central Luzon Farmers Cooperatives on Friday (March 18, 2022) called on the government to raise its palay procurement price to help ease farmers from the burden of high cost of production and fuel price hikes. The government, through the National Food Authority procures palay at PHP19 per kilo for the dry variety. (PNA photo by Manny Balbin) SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan - Central Luzon farmers on Friday asked the government to raise its palay (unhusked rice) support price to help ease the burden on the rising cost of production and fuel prices. Simeon Sioson, chairperson of the Federation of Central Luzon Farmers' Cooperatives, said farmers tend to sell their yields to private traders, rather than the National Food Authority (NFA) which procures palayat PHP19 per kilo for dry weight (14 percent moisture content and 95 to 100 percent purity). Sioson said most farmers sell their palay right after harvest to shy away from the adde