DA Sticking to 20.44M MT Palay Output Target Despite El Niño Impact

DA Sticking to 20.44M MT Palay Output Target

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is determined to achieve its unmilled rice or palay production target of 20.44 million metric tons (MT) for 2024, despite challenges posed by El Niño on the local rice sector.

In a news release on Tuesday, the DA affirmed its goal of surpassing the record-high output of 20.06 million MT harvested in 2023.

“We’re optimistic since it’s still early June. We’re still aiming for that. We’re doing our best to achieve that,” said DA Undersecretary Chris Morales, who oversees the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program.

Impact of El Niño

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that palay output in the first quarter of 2023 declined by 1.96% to 4.69 million MT from 4.78 million MT in the same period last year, due to El Niño.

As of May 16, DA data showed that El Niño had affected 83,862 hectares of rice fields, resulting in a volume loss of 185,561 MT worth PHP 4.60 billion.

Efforts to Mitigate Impact

Despite these setbacks, Morales said the DA has collaborated with various private organizations to extend the reach of its rice production programs.

He noted that the record-high palay harvest of 20.06 million MT last year was achieved through government interventions, primarily funded by tariffs collected on imported rice.

The Rice Tariffication Law allocates PHP 10 billion through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Rice Fund) to mechanize rice farming and provide farmers with quality seeds and training on advanced farming technologies.

Additional Support Initiatives

Beyond the Rice Fund, other initiatives such as the provision of hybrid seeds and the National Irrigation Administration’s contract growing program are also contributing to increased palay output.

Morales emphasized that the DA’s rice program aims for self-sufficiency in the country’s main food staple, though the level of sufficiency is influenced by population growth and additional rice demand from rising numbers of foreign tourists.

He added that the rice supply situation remains manageable, especially with continuous private sector importation augmenting domestic production.