Manila – The Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines announced on Tuesday a promising year for rice production, indicating an abundant and affordable supply for the market.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Arnel de Mesa, about 90 percent of the country’s palay, or unhusked rice, has been harvested this wet season. The produce was purchased at an average price of PHP22.00 per kilogram, with the current farmgate price ranging between PHP23 and PHP25 per kilo. De Mesa highlighted that the retail prices stand at PHP42.80 per kilo for regular well-milled rice and PHP45 per kilo for well-milled rice.
De Mesa acknowledged that there might be slight price adjustments as the wet season harvest nears completion, with only a few areas remaining harvestable. The forecast for November and December anticipates a yield of 3.063 million metric tons (MMT) of rice. Based on data from the Philippine Rice Information System, the DA spokesperson emphasized that 2023 has been a generally successful year for Filipino rice farmers. The national rice production outlook for the year is expected to reach around 20 MMT. The DA also launched the ‘Be RICEponsible’ campaign, coinciding with the National Rice Awareness Month. This campaign, running until 2028, is aimed at raising awareness about the value of rice and the complexities of its production. The DA reassured the public about the effectiveness of the programs and policies implemented under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which have enhanced the country’s rice production and the competitiveness of local rice farmers.