PHL expects to ship more than 100 MT rice to foreign markets this year

Chances are high that the Philippine will exceed its rice export target of 100 metric tons for the year, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said on Monday. “I believe we can exceed the target because more countries now want to try different varieties,” Alcala told reporters in an interview. Also Monday at the Manila Harbor Center, the Agriculture Department staged a send off for an inaugural shipment of 20 MT of Jasponica produced by SL Agritech Corporation Talavera, Nueva Ecija and 15 MT of black rice produced by the Don Bosco Development Foundation in Mlang, North Cotabato. The shipment will actually depart on May 9. According to the Agriculture Department, the shipments were consolidated by the Vegetable Importers and Exporters Vendors Association. “We want our farmers to start considering opportunities in the export market,” said Alcala, noting rice exports would protect farmers' incomes because prices of the commodity would drop once the country achieves rice self-sufficiency. Don Bosco Development is also readying a separate shipment of 20 MT white rice for Dubai. A 30 MT of heirloom rice is also scheduled for the United States between September to October, plus other shipments for Hong Kong, Macau, Middle East and South Africa. — VS, GMA News