Yap sees robust growth in rice, corn output
Othel V. Campos
Manila Standard
Rice and corn production rose significantly in the first nine months of the year after recovering from an extended dry spell, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said.
“You will be pleasantly surprised. Suffice it to say that production is up for both rice and corn. We’ll release the exact figures next week,” Yap said.
“The estimated crop losses on rice of 200,000 tons [due to dry spell] were already addressed this third quarter. We are positive we will hit the target before year-end,” said GMA-Rice Program director Frisco Malabanan.
Malabanan said the government had maintained its target of 16.2 million tons for 2007 rice output.
On the other hand, corn production may also reach its full-year target of 6.7 million tons at year-end. Second semester output is expected to hit 4.018 million tons.
Palay or paddy rice grew 2.88 percent in the first semester from 8.39 percent a year ago while corn posted a 5.59 percent growth from 32 percent.
Overall crops growth was at 2.63 percent from 6.16 last year.
Crops accounted for 46.95 percent of the semester’s agricultural output. First semester farm output grew 3.55 percent, slightly lower than the 5.24 percent growth registered a year ago despite threat of drought.
Meanwhile, the government has mandated the importation of rice and corn in separate tranches to address shortage concerns.
The government brought in 1.89 tons of rice for the year. It earlier allowed the importation of about 1.61 million tons of rice as standby inventory for the lean months while 260,000 MT were brought in September as standby volume for next year.
The National Food Authority said the September importation could be the last for the year, unless calamities hit the country for the remainder of the year.
Corn importation totaled 120,000 tons, so far. The government is yet to reschedule a failed tender last month to include not only the 70,000 tons of corn but also the additional 200,000 tons.
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