NFA may import 800,000MT rice

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is inclined to import around 800,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year for buffer stocking during the lean season.

Agriculture undersecretary Dante Delima said an agreement has been reached within the National Food Authority Council (NFA) for the importation of such volume.

“The economic managers see it crucial that the volume should be imported to help stabilize prices,” said Delima.

The NFA, however, has yet to make a formal announcement on the mode of procurement.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala recently said any procurement this year under the omnibus minimum access volume (MAV) would be done under government-to-government procurement.

Only three countries presently have procurement agreements with the Philippines. These are Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The imported volume is programmed for delivery before the traditional lean season of July to September.

The NFA earlier opened to the private sector the application for the importation of 163,000 MT under the MAV country-specific-quota.

Under this allocation, rice may only be imported from the following source countries with the respective allocations: Thailand (98,000 MT), India (25,000 MT), China (25,000 MT) and Australia (15,000 MT).

Alcala said that the government is now evaluating its production target for attaining rice self sufficiency after a series of strong typhoons dented the country’s self-sufficiency target.

“Self sufficiency is determined at the end of the year but for now we have to address the demand during the lean months,” he said.

Alcala stressed that the country would not import more than what is necessary.