Palay harvest may surpass 20.46 M MT this year - DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is optimistic that total palay harvest this year will surpass 20.46 million metric tons (MT) following a historic first half production, driven by better weather conditions and sustained state support.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

"Palay and corn production for the January-June semester gives us hope for a better year for agriculture despite the challenges we now face," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

"Mother Nature permitting, and with the help of President Marcos and lawmakers, we are cautiously optimistic that we could post a record harvest this year," Tiu Laurel added.

Palay harvest from January to June reached 9.08 million MT, about six percent higher than the 8.53 million MT output in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The latest palay production figure is the highest first half output ever recorded, PSA data showed.