PHL to start exporting organic fancy rice in early 2013

The Philippines will start exporting premium varieties of rice in the first quarter of the year, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said Tuesday. “What we will export are the higher quality varieties of rice,” he said. “We have black, red and organic fancy rice. Trial shipments will be sent to different markets in Europe, Middle East, US and Singapore.” According to National Rice Program director Dante Delima, the Philippines is ready to begin trial shipments of 15 metric tons of black rice from Quezon to Hong Kong and Dubai in the first quarter. He added that the Department will come up with a “comprehensive plan” for the export of premium varieties this period. The Philippines will only export premium rice, said Delima, as “ordinary rice is very cheap in other countries, so we cannot compete.” Exporting pricier high-quality grains will also offset the country's importation of cheaper rice varieties as required by its trade commitments under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme. The figures are not yet final for the total volume of rice exported in 2012, but Delima expects it to be greater than the 538 metric tons of rice and seeds shipped overseas in 2011. The rice export program will not affect the Department's goal of achieving self-sufficiency in rice in 2013, he added. — BM/HS, GMA News