Successive typhoons to cut rice production – DA

MANILA, Philippines — The successive typhoons in the country in the past weeks will result in lower rice production until the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

“Our (agriculture) sector was severely affected by the successive calamities and typhoons, especially our crops. We expect that the local production will go down starting from the third quarter and will be extended until the fourth quarter,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said.

The combined damage caused by Tropical Cyclones Kristine and Leon to the agriculture sector has reached P9.8 billion, apart from the damage from Cyclone Nika, which reached P248.47 million, according to the latest report of the DA.

For rice production, the damage amounted to P5.93 billion with a production loss of 325,860 metric tons (MT).

The DA has set the total rice production target for 2024 at 20.19 million MT.

Meanwhile, imported rice continues to arrive with total imports reaching 3.9 MT as of Nov. 7, based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

De Mesa added that the Executive Order 62, which lowered the tariff on imported rice to 15 percent from the previous 35 percent, helps in ensuring enough supply.

“The good news is our level of importation will be able to balance (the impact of the typhoons), so since the tariff (was reduced) from 35 to 15 (percent), it will provide a balance (in the) supply and in terms of retail prices, we can expect to maintain a good level,” De Mesa added.

He noted that P42 to P45 per kilo of regular and well-milled rice are now available in markets.

At the same time, De Mesa assured the public that the current retail prices of rice will be maintained until the holidays.

Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local rice is still cheaper compared to imported grains.

Local regular milled rice ranged between P40 and P50 per kilo; local well-milled rice, between P42 and P53 per kilo; local premium rice, between P42 and P53 per kilo; and local special rice, P60 per kilo.