Palay output seen higher in 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is still expecting an increase in local palay production for this year even if the country has opened up its market to more rice importation.

The Department of Agriculture is targeting to produce at least 19.6 million metric tons of palay, 6.5 percent higher than last year’s expected 18.4 million MT.

The DA is originally targeting a palay output of 19 million MT in 2019, but the two major typhoons at the tail end of last year took their toll on the crops sector.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta said the DA has already considered the effects of the Rice Tariffication Law and the entry of more rice imports in setting its target for this year.

“The effect of the RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund) will already come in particularly the seed component. We have P3 billion for seeds this year,” Villacorta said.

“So we will be giving seeds for two seasons because we still have our regular program focusing on hybrid targeting about 500,000 for this year. The 19.6 million MT is even conservative,” he said.

The country’s total rice requirement is at 21 million MT, excluding the buffer stock of 30 days as required by the National Food Authority.

“Last year, we imported three million MT so it already covered the balance and we even have excess of about two million MT that’s why our stocks would be good for about 100 days,” Villacorta said.

Further, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that the DA is aiming for a better rice adequacy level and not rice self-sufficiency.

Currently, the Philippines is 85 percent self-sufficient, significantly lower than the previous level of 93 percent. Thus, the higher importation of rice.

“I have always said it is an ambition or aspiration to have 100 percent sufficiency but our existing realities show that we cannot just yet that’s why our goal is ensuring food security,” Dar said.

The current 85 percent rice adequacy level is targeted to be increased to as much as 95 percent in the next six years.