Agri Dept. sees palay output growing slower at 4% post-Yolanda

The increasing frequency and intensity of weather disturbances in the Philippines prompted the Department of Agriculture (DA) to place its palay output forecast in the next three years below the rate needed to attain rice self-sufficiency, a ranking official said Monday. 

 

DA Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima said the DA expects palay production to grow at 4 percent on average in the next three years, or below the 6 percent target under the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP). 

 

“Because of the series of calamities, four percent is the organic and sustainable growth rate for three years,” he said. 

 

Higher public and private sector investments in rice sector, however, will ramp up palay production, he said, adding that rice self-sufficiency can still be attained depending on how serious stakeholders are in increasing irrigated land. 

 

This year, the Philippines is expected to attain a rice self-sufficiency level of 97 percent – enough to meet domestic consumption but not the need for a 90-day buffer stock. 

 

The lower than expected self-sufficiency level was an offshoot of the damage to crops in Central Philippines caused by super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest to make landfall in recorded history. 

 

Some 43,774 metric tons (MT) of rice crops planted in 77,476 hectares were damaged, of which 36,038 hectares may still be recovered, the DA said. 

 

Growth in palay production quickened to 8.08 percent last year from 5.78 percent in 2011. The sector posted contractions in 2010 and 2009. 

 

Palay production this year is expected to grow at a slower 3 to 4 percent year-on-year.

 

Thus, the National Food Authority (NFA) has cleared the importation of 500,000 metric tons (MT) that would be added to the buffer stock. 

 

The Agriculture Department is trying to hasten the rehabilitation of agriculture areas to help farming communities affected by  Yolanda, GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas reported Monday.

 

The rehabilitation includes clearing farms and providing fertilizer and farm tools. 

 

As of Monday morning, Dec. 2, the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council estimates the damage to agriculture at P17.033 billion, of which agricultural infrastructure accounted for P1.650 billion.  

The Agriculture Department also estimated that over 200,000 fishing and farming families were affected by the typhoon. – SOA/VS, GMA News