BAYOMBONG: Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala is confident that the country will achieve rice-sufficiency by the yearend.
Speaking in Isabela, Alcala said the province’s promising rice output and those of other major rice-producing provinces is an indication that the country has enough rice supply to last until the year-end and thus be rice self-sufficient.
The remaining palay to be harvested until December would make the country’s rice production reach 20 million metric tonnes this year, higher than last year’s 18 million metric tons, he added.
Alcala said the country’s dependence on imported rice has been declining over the past two years because of the improving local production.
From 2.4 million metric tons in 2010, rice imports went down to 200,000 metric tons this year, he added.
The Philippine Star
