Inter-agency body tackles additional rice imports

MANILA, Philippines - The Inter-Agency Committee on Rice and Corn is set to deliberate on the issue of additional rice importations this year, following the submission by the Department of Agriculture of its palay production projections for 2010.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI) 80th founding anniversary yesterday, Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla and officer-in-charge for Undersecretary for Operations Joel Rudinas said palay production for this year may register a flat growth due to the possible adverse effect of the El Niño phenomenon.

According to Rudinas, the DA is maintaining its target of 17.4 million metric tons. However, he said climate-related factors may limit palay production to a level close to the actual palay production last year of 16.26 million metric tons.

Fondevilla had said that a severe dry spell could lead to losses of 816,372 MT of rice worth P12.24 billion.

Based on the DA’s palay production projection, the IAC will make its recommendation to the National Food Authority (NFA) to do additional rice importations this year.

The NFA in November and December last year conducted four public rice tenders/biddings for 2.2 million metric tons of rice.

It had earlier been speculated that the grains authority would import up to three million metric tons of rice this year based on a worst case scenario taking into account the effects of drought and floodings.

Additional demand due to election-related consumption has not been factored in.