By Janine Alexis Miguel

DOMESTIC rice production is expected to fall below 19.4 million metric tons (MT) this year due to damage caused by successive typhoons, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.

The damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Ofel alone totaled P6 billion with 100,242 hectares affected, corresponding to a production loss of 516,438 MT — equivalent to 2.5 percent of the total production target for 2024.

The toll is expected to increase after Super Typhoon Pepito struck over the weekend.

“The typhoons are successive so it is difficult for those who grow corn and high-value crops, especially vegetables to recover, so the prices of vegetables in the markets are still somewhat elevated,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said.

Rice imports, which stood at 3.9 million metric tons (MT) as of Nov. 7, will help mitigate the impact, he added.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that the Philippines could import a record rice volume of around 5.1 million this year.

The DA initially projected palay output to reach 20.44 million MT this year, higher than 2023’s record 20.06 million MT. It cut the forecast to 19.4 million MT due to the effects of the El Niño weather pattern earlier this year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has said that the country’s rice program was being recalibrated to deliver higher yields. The initiative includes identifying areas for enhancement, distribution of improved seeds, expansion of irrigation systems, and adjustments to rice cropping schedules.

The USDA projects the Philippines to produce around 12.3 million MT of milled rice this year, lower than their previous estimate of 12.7 million MT.

Published Date: November 19, 2024