PH still needs to import rice despite 96% self-sufficiency

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala cited yesterday the need to import rice to ensure stable supply in the country.

At yesterday' s House Committee on Appropriations deliberation on the DA's proposed 53.59 billion for 2016, the DA chief said that, even though the country achieved 96-percent rice sufficiency in 2014, it would still be necessary for the government to import rice.

"Hindi naman po ganun kadali na hindi tayo magaangkat dahil we need a buffer para hindi kukulangin ang supply natin. At para masigurado na hindi magugutom ang mga kababayan natin (It’s not that easy to say that we no longer need to import rice because we need a buffer supply to make sure we do not run short of rice and to make sure that our countrymen will not go hungry)," Alcala told lawmakers at the budget hearing when asked why the government continues to import rice.

Anakpawis partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap, and Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero questioned Alcala why the government continued to engage in rice importation despite the Philippines' 4.02 percent growth in rice production from 2010 to 2014.

Alcala said the Philippines recorded the fastest production growth among the world's rice producers for 2010 to 2014.

The country has achieved historical best of 18.97 million metric tons palay production and 4 metric tons per hectare yield in 2014, he noted.

"Bakit naging habit na natin ang mag angkat ng bigas eh tayo naman ang may mabilis na rice production growth? Hindi ba natin ito magagawan ng paraan na hindi mag-import (Why has it become a habit for us to import rice when we are actually the fastest in rice production growth? Can’t we do anything so we don’t need to import anymore)?" Hicap asked.

Alcala justified the continued rice importation, citing several factors affecting the rice production.

"Hindi madaling magproduce ng palay kung kulang sa tubig. At halos 20 na bagyo ang dumadalaw sa atin. Kaya kailangan talaga may buffer stock tayo (It’s not easy to produce rice if you lack water supply. Also, there are almost 20 typhoons that visit the country every year. That’s why we need the buffer stock)," he said.