Worse crisis? DA says Phl has enough rice

There will be enough supply of rice amid the warning of farmers’ group Federation of Free Farmers FFF) that the crisis experienced in 2023 could be worse in 2024, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa has assured the public.

- BELLA CARIASO

The Department of Agriculture DA) expects at least 20 million metric tons of palay harvest before the end of 2023, De Mesa said at a forum over the weekend.

“We're expecting 85 to 90 days of national stock inventory by the end of December which is enough until the next harvest season comes March or April 2024) but we still have imports as our importation is already liberalized. Based on historical data, additional imports come) during the first quarter,” De Mesa added.

In an earlier interview with The STAR, FFF national chairman Raul Montemayor warned that the rice crisis could be worse in 2024 amid the continued spike in the retail price of the grains despite the harvest season.

De Mesa said that the total imported rice reached 3.03 million metric tons as of end November compared to the same period last year of 3.5 million metric tons.