PHL posts historic rice growth despite typhoons MANILA, Philippines - Despite strong typhoons that hit agriculture-producing provinces in the last half of the year, Filipino farmers were able to produce a total of 18.44 million metric tons (MMT) of palay in 2013. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala bared the figure represents the highest ever rice output recorded in Philippine history. “Had it not been for the destructive typhoons in the latter part of the year, particularly Typhoon Yolanda, we would have achieved rice self-sufficiency by now,” Alcala said as he noted that the overall yield was still three percent short of the rice production target set by the Department of Agriculture at 20.04 MMT. Likewise, the series of typhoons that beset the country in the last quarter of 2013 not only prevented the country from achieving its rice production targets but had also made the DA to extend its target of achieving rice self-sufficiency to 2015. Alcala said this was due to the time needed to rehabilitate rice farms in typhoon-affected areas to production capacity. According to DA records, Typhoon Yolanda alone severely damaged more than 67,000 hectares of rice farms that produces a minimum yield of about 250,000 tons of rice annually. But despite the setback, the DA remained confident that the Philippines would still attain rice self-sufficiency by 2015 and sustain it beyond 2016. The DA has already set a rice production target of 20.5 MMT by 2016 for the country to sustain rice self-sufficiency. However, Alcala said that self-sufficiency in itself would never be enough. “For the Philippines to be truly self-sufficient, we must exceed more than 100 percent production for the reason that we must have an excess to serve as buffer stock for the following year,” he noted. To achieve this target, Alcala said the DA had already embarked on a series of programs that would increase climate change resiliency in agriculture. Foremost among them are the establishment of climate resilient infrastructure. He said that starting this year, all irrigation canals to be constructed would be lined with concrete while old ones would be retrofitted. “Farm-to-market roads (FMRs) would all be now permanently surfaced with proper drainage,” he added. He said that for 2014 to 2016, the DA has set a target of constructing 2,250 kilometers of irrigation canals and 2,914 km. of FMRs. In addition, the DA is actively promoting the increased use of climate tolerant varieties to mitigate rice production losses due to climate change. “We are also campaigning for the integration of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in rice to improve the quality of palay and the use of appropriate modern technologies to boost overall production in preparation for intense domestic and global competition,” Alcala said. (PNA)
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 15:25:17 +0000
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