DA: Rice imports may breach 5 million MT

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said agency projections showed the country will have a 75-day supply of rice by the end of the year to withstand the effects of El Niño.

STAR / Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — The country is expected to import more than five million metric tons (MT) of rice this year to strengthen supply as domestic production is projected to decline due to the effects of El Niño, according to the Department of Agriculture.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said agency projections showed the country will have a 75-day supply of rice by the end of the year to withstand the effects of El Niño.

The Philippines has imported 3.98 million MT of rice as of Sept. 24, which has already surpassed last year’s 3.39 million MT.

Among the top sources of rice was Vietnam at 2.72 million MT, followed by Thailand at 517,528 MT and Myanmar at 400,359 MT.

The DA is projecting a 700,000 MT reduction in total rice production this year because of El Niño.

It added that 163,812 MT or P6.78 billion has already been damaged as of Sept. 26. Most of the affected crops were corn, followed by rice and high-value crops. –  Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao