RP still importing rice, belies Noy claim

It seems President Aquino is plucking economic policies out of the air as the National Food Authority (NFA) indicated the country will have to import an initial 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice next year against Aquino’s claim before the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Hawaii.

In one of the side events of the forum that was attended by businessmen among Apec countries, Aquino boasted that his administration’s employment of the right policies had resulted in good rice harvests that eliminated the need for rice importation.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, however, said the NFA Council, which he heads, had decided to resume rice importation next year during a Dec. 6 meeting.

Of the total volume, he said government will allow the private sector and farmers’ groups to import 250,000 MT each.

He said, nevertheless, the NFA will concentrate on local palay procurement, as it has yet adequate rice and palay stocks in its warehouses.

He said government has enough funds to buy more palay this current dry season and main harvest season next year.

In fact, the DA expects a good harvest this dry season due to the ‘quick-turn-around’ (QTA) and ratooning initiatives.

These were undertaken by the DA in partnership with farmers’ groups and local government units to offset palay losses totaling 700,000 MT due to typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” last September.

Even this year, the country imported a total of 860,000 MT, which Alcala said is one-third of the 2.4 million MT imported in 2010.

Still the importation was in contrast to the claim of Aquino that the country is attaining self-sufficiency in rice and that the era of grains importation had ended.

Of this year’s total volume, 600,000 MT was imported by the private sector, 200,000 MT by the NFA, and 60,000 MT by farmers’ groups.

He said the DA will ensure that the country has enough buffer stock next year, particularly having a 90-day buffer stock by June 30, going into the traditional lean months of July to September.  –Mario F. Fetalino Jr., Daily Tribune