DA: Higher rice imports in 2024 possible

STABLE SUPPLY. Workers move sacks of rice to another truck along Dagupan Street in Tondo, Manila on Sept. 9, 2024. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said Wednesday (Oct. 2, 2024) rice imports may surpass last year’s volume to supplement the country’s strong harvest and maintain a stable rice supply in the country. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday a higher import volume is possible this year compared to 2023.

In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said importers may surpass last year’s volume to supplement the country’s strong harvest in terms of maintaining a stable rice supply in the country.

“Karamihan ng import dumarating (Most import arrivals happen) during (the) last quarter, so, looking historically, statistically speaking, it might breach the 3.6 million metric tons (MT) last year,” he said.

As of Sept. 26, the DA has recorded 3.195 million MT of rice import arrivals.

“We have enough supply coming from strong harvest kahit may El Niño, kaunti lang naman iyong naging (despite the El Niño, there was minimal) reported damage,” De Mesa said.

Earlier, the DA said the country may also breach its 500,000 MT to 600,000 MT projected rice production loss due to the combined effects of the El Niño phenomenon, weather disturbances, and La Niña.

For El Niño, the DA reported PHP15.3 billion in agricultural damage affecting 333,195 farmers and fishers in 15 regions nationwide.

The DA, however, maintained its hope to hit 20.4 million metric tons of rice production or at least match last year’s 20 million MT output despite the possible effects of La Niña.