DA: Despite typhoon damage, palay production up in 2013

Despite typhoon damage, the country's palay production last year is expected to have exceeded the yield in 2012, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Thursday.

 

Citing initial reports sent by regional field units, Alcala said palay production in 2013 likely exceeded the 18.03 million metric tons produced the year before.

He did not say whether the 2013 target of 19 million MT was reached. "Definitely, production in 2013 would be higher than in 2012," Alcala said.

 

"We thought, previously, that production would be flat for this year but positive growth in Region 3 (Central Luzon) has pulled up palay production figures," said Dante Delima, DA assistant secretary and National Rice Program coordinator. 

 

In November 2013, Typhoon Yolanda caused so much damage to agriculture in the central Philippines that the National Food Authority approved the importation of 500,000 MT of rice to shore up the country's buffer stock. Delivery began last month and is expected to continue throughout the quarter.

 

The Department of Agriculture expects palay production to grow four to five percent year-on-year in the next three years. This is lower than the six-percent annual growth needed to meet domestic requirements and maintain a buffer stock.

 

"That is why we are reviewing our programs and identifying interventions needed to achieve this," Delima said. — JDS, GMA News