DA sticking to 20.44M MT palay output target

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is determined to achieve its unmilled rice or palay production target this year despite the impact of El Niño on the local rice sector.

In a news release on Tuesday, the DA said it is sticking to its goal of 20.44 million metric tons (MT) of palay harvest in 2024, which is higher than the record-high output of 20.06 million MT reaped in 2023.

“We’re optimistic since it’s still early June. We’re still aiming for that. We’re doing our best to achieve that,” said DA Undersecretary Chris Morales, who is in-charge of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, however, showed that palay output in the first quarter of 2023 declined by 1.96% to 4.69 million MT from 4.78 million MT in the same period last year, due to El Niño.

Latest data from the DA, as of May 16, showed that El Niño has affected 83,862 hectares of rice fields, resulting in a volume loss of 185,561 MT worth P4.60 billion.

Nevertheless, Morales said the DA has tapped various private organizations to assist the agency in extending the reach of the rice production program.

The DA official said palay harvest increased to a record high of 20.06 million MT last year due to government interventions, primarily programs funded by tariff collected on imported rice. 

The Rice Tariffication Law sets aside P10 billion through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or Rice Fund, to mechanize rice farming as well as provide farmers with good seeds and training on better farming technologies.

Aside from the Rice Fund, Morales said other rice production initiatives such as the provision of hybrid seeds and the contract growing program of the National Irrigation Administration are also helping increase palay output.

He said the DA’s rice program is aiming for self-sufficiency of the country’s main food staple, although the level of sufficiency is dependent on population growth and additional rice demand due to the increasing number of foreign tourists.

Morales said the rice supply situation remains manageable, especially with the continuous importation of the private sector to augment domestic production. —VAL, GMA Integrated News