No Rice Shortage

“No rice shortage”- Our DA secretary Yap explained that the country is only 90% sufficient in rice production so there is a need to import the 10% balance and we already have it in our country thus, no shortage. He further stressed that “there is no rice crisis but rice price crisis.”

Yap further assured the public that the government is exerting all efforts to increase the local harvest in order to meet the demand of the staple food.

To do this, the government continues to provide irrigation and seed support to farmers. For the wet season this year, 2.54 million hectares in the country will be provided with seed support and Php 500 million is allotted for inputs. He further reiterated President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s pronouncement during the recent National Food summit that the national government has earmarked the budget of Php 2 billion for Post harvest Facilities, Php 15 billion for micro-finance, Php 6 billion for irrigation and Php 6 billion for farm to market roads.

With this assistance, the government is optimistic that rice production of the country this year will reach 17 million metric tons. This could be attained with the support of the Local Government Units who will also be pouring their resources as counter part to the national funding.

As you will be reading this article, I know some of you won't agree with me. Anyway, you are all entitled to your own opinion. But this is a fact.