MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday a reassuring outlook for the nation’s rice supply, projecting it to remain robust through the end of the year despite adverse weather conditions, including the effects of La Niña. The agency expects a rice inventory of 3.83 million metric tons (MT), sufficient to meet the country’s consumption needs for 100 days.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Undersecretary for the National Rice Industry Development Program, Christopher Morales, explained that the projection takes into account updated rice stock data, actual import arrivals, and historical trends. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure the country’s rice needs are met despite an anticipated production drop of 358,000 MT for the last quarter due to weather disturbances.
Morales emphasized that while local production is expected to face challenges, imported rice will continue to play a crucial role in maintaining a stable national rice inventory. The DA has recorded 3.57 million
tons of rice imports from January to October 14 of this year, marking a 24 percent increase over the 2.84 million MT imported during the same period last year.
The total annual palay production is anticipated to decline slightly to 19.41 million MT, down from the earlier target of 20.4 million MT, which would result in approximately 12.69 million tons of milled rice. Despite this slight decrease in domestic production, the DA remains confident in the country’s ability to sustain its rice supply through strategic imports and careful inventory management.