Gov't in bid to ensure rice production despite El Nino

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government has come up with plans to reduce rice production risks due to looming El Nino, a senior government official said today.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and concurrent National Rice Program Director Edilberto de Luna said the department has begun various strategies such as cloud seeding operations, releasing rice varieties that are tolerant to drought, and enforcing initiatives in water management and conservation measures.

Modern farming and fishery technologies have also been utilized to cushion the effects of El Nino, said the official.

"We will not be caught unprepared, especially now that the weather is becoming harder and harder to predict," he said.

Despite the recent rains, the Department of Science and Technology earlier said El Nino may still occur and peak by the end of the year.

Besides preparing for El Nino, the National Rice Program also intends to increase the volume and percentage share of the first semester rice output, the official said.

The 2013 first semester harvest was 7.998 million metric tons, representing 43 percent of the country's total rice production.