Department of Agriculture drawing up plans for rice exports by 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said yesterday that the Department of Agriculture is drawing up plans for the export of rice by 2014 assuming that self-sufficiency will be achieved by 2013.

In an interview with reporters, Alcala expressed confidence that the Philippines would be able to start exporting rice by 2014 after its achieves rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

Potential markets such as Korea, Alcala said, is confident about the Philippines’ ability to produce rice and is helping the DA in various ways. He said Korea is coordinating with us on producing glutinous short-grain rice similar to Japanese rice.

He said the DA is checking on some varieties that show strong potentials for export.

He said Korea “believes that we are headed towards sufficiency and that the Philippines will be grateful for their assistance.”

 The Philippines, Alcala said, “knows how to reciprocate” and that “Korea realizes that its assistance to the country in the form of rice processing centers would be reciprocated once we are sufficient and that should they need help, we, in turn, will be able to give them rice.”

He said Korea is extending additional assistance next year for a seed processing center. The Philippines is asking assistance to put up two to three seed processing centers.

Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency or KOICA, has been extendingd financial assistance to the Philippines since 2009 to put up several rice processing centers in Iloilo, Bohol, Pangasinan and Davao del Sur.