Early rice imports seen next year

MANILA, Philippines - The government may need to import rice early next year to replace the stocks that were lost due to the effects of typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

As for this year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) remains optimistic that the supply will not run short and that there is “no need to import for 2011.”

However, a “tightness in supply could possibly be experienced in the second quarter of 2012” and “may require an early importation.”

Based on agriculture damage estimates by the DA as of Sept. 30, the value of losses to the agriculture sector has climbed to P6.965 billion.

For palay/rice, the damage is now placed at P6.387 billion.

For corn, the damage is much lower at P403 million, while the loss to high-vale crops (HVC) is at P169 million.

Damage to fishery facilities is estimated at P4 million.

In a report to Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, Agriculture Undersecretary Joel S. Rudinas said that lost palay from croplands in the reproductive/maturity state is estimated at 448,469 metric tons which is 6.89 percent of the national production target of 6.508 million metric tons in the last quarter of the year.

Affected were 333,502 hectares in 25 provinces in six regions in Luzon. Completely damaged were 15,722 hectares while 317,780 hectares have chances of recovery.