STABLE SUPPLY. Employees transfer sacks of rice to a different truck alongside Dagupan Avenue in Tondo, Manila on Sept. 9, 2024. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa mentioned Wednesday (Oct. 2, 2024) rice imports could surpass final yr’s quantity to complement the nation’s sturdy harvest and preserve a secure rice provide within the nation. (PNA photograph by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The Division of Agriculture (DA) mentioned Wednesday a better import quantity is feasible this yr in comparison with 2023.
In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa mentioned importers could surpass final yr’s quantity to complement the nation’s sturdy harvest by way of sustaining a secure rice provide within the nation.
“Karamihan ng import dumarating (Most import arrivals occur) throughout (the) final quarter, so, trying traditionally, statistically talking, it’d breach the three.6 million metric tons (MT) final yr,” he mentioned.
As of Sept. 26, the DA has recorded 3.195 million MT of rice import arrivals.
“We have now sufficient provide coming from sturdy harvest kahit could El Niño, kaunti lang naman iyong naging (regardless of the El Niño, there was minimal) reported injury,” De Mesa mentioned.
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Earlier, the DA mentioned the nation can also breach its 500,000 MT to 600,000 MT projected rice manufacturing loss because of the mixed results of the El Niño phenomenon, climate disturbances, and La Niña.
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For El Niño, the DA reported PHP15.3 billion in agricultural injury affecting 333,195 farmers and fishers in 15 areas nationwide.
The DA, nevertheless, maintained its hope to hit 20.4 million metric tons of rice manufacturing or at the very least match final yr’s 20 million MT output regardless of the doable results of La Niña.