Agri execs see palay output of 7.6M MT in first half

Palay production in the first half of this year may reach 7.6 million metric tons despite the recent spate of rains, according to preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said this estimated output will put the government about halfway toward achieving its full-year target palay production of 17.46 million tons.

According to BAS estimates, second quarter (April to June) palay production grew by 14.2 percent, with preliminary production figure for the period of 3.57 million tons compared with the second quarter 2010 production of just 3.13 million tons.

For the third-quarter (July to September) palay production, the BAS is projecting a 31.9 percent growth to 3.49 million tons, compared with the 2.6 million-ton actual production in the third quarter of 2010.

The DA-BAS does not have any projection yet for fourth-quarter palay production. Last year, fourth-quarter palay production was 6.5 million tons.

For the whole of 2011, the government targets a palay production of 17.46 million tons.

Alcala reiterated his confidence that rice production this year will be much better than last year, barring any major weather disturbance.

He assured that based on agricultural damage estimates for June 24 to 27 (2011), the actual palay damage of 21,631 tons is less than one percent of the projected total palay production for this year.