2% growth in rice production seen

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s rice production for the second quarter of 2009 may be 1 to 2 percent more than last year, according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

Citing preliminary data, Yap said rice production posted high growth in the first quarter because of ample rainfall, irrigation spending and the good support price for palay or unhusked rice (P17 a kilo). Whether that will continue in the second quarter remains to be seen, he said.

“If it’s going to be 1 percent, 1.2 to 2 percent, it’s something we’re studying,” Yap said. “It’s very preliminary.”

There are no estimates yet for corn, another staple crop and often used as a substitute for rice.

Steady rainfall is generally good for rice but may stunt the growth of corn.

Yap’s forecast was in line with the estimates released by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

BAS data showed that farm output growth for the first quarter of 2009 was 2 percent with all subsectors increasing production from 2008. The January-March palay crop was estimated at 3.94 million metric tons (MT), 5.13 percent higher than 3.75 million MT in the same period last year.

The second quarter production must reach 3.43 million MT, or 1.81 percent above the 3.37 million MT output last year, to meet the first-half target of 7.37 million MT.

The target of 7.37 MT is 3.56 percent above the 7.12 million MT output in 2008.–Riza T. Olchondra, Philippine Daily Inquirer