DA sets '13 rice import target

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) may be able to limit its importation of rice in 2013 to just 100,000 metric tons, if the country is able to attain its target rice production this year of 18.46 million metric tons, according to DA assistant secretary and National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima said yesterday.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, the country is importing 500,000 MT of rice this year following the damage to palay (unhusked rice) crops last year.

The DA had been hoping to cut down rice importations this year to less than 500,000 MT and was initially hoping to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

It appears now that the DA would still have to import some rice next year although Delima was quick to add that this would also be for “buffer” stock.

For 2013, Delima said the DA is eyeing a production of 20.04 million MT.

For 2014, the rice production target is 21.50 million MT and for 2015, the production target is 22.13 million MT and for 2016, the target production is 22.73 million MT.

Delima said the DA is hoping to increase rice production following a change in cropping pattern.

The DA has asked farmers to plant earlier during the dry season to avail of the warm weather in April and May and avoid the destructive rainy and typhoon seasonby October.

Delima said the DA is hoping to advance the cropping season in 200,000 to 250,000 hectares nationwide with a targeted yield of one million MT.

The DA is also providing seeds–both certified and hybrid seeds to farmers.

Meanwhile, the DA will start repairing irrigation facilities damaged by the strong earthquake that occurred in Negros and Cebu provinces last Monday as soon as roads in the damaged communities are passable.

“We will start the rehabilitation of damaged irrigation canals as soon as the roads are already passable” Delima said.

Damage to irrigation facilities, mostly communal irrigation systems (CIS) as reported by National Irrigation Administration was placed at P 63 million. Five facilities in Region VI require P 2.72 million to be repaired while 17 facilities in Region VII will need P 60.3 million for repairs. – With Czeriza Valencia