MANILA, April 18 (Reuters) - The Philippines, the
world's second-biggest rice buyer behind China, aims to be fully
self-sufficient in production of the staple crop by 2027, the
agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.
The pledge comes after previous administrations have failed
to achieve the target due to policy missteps and the impact of
more destructive weather dampening local productivity.
The Southeast Asian country currently imports more than 3
million tonnes of rice annually, mainly from Vietnam, to beef up
local supply and keep prices stable.
Under a revamped five-year programme, President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr.'s administration has identified "key strategies" to
enhance production, including climate change adaptation and
using digital technology.
The department of agriculture said in a statement it was
seeking full rice self-sufficiency by 2027, or a year before the
end of a Marcos's six-year term. Marcos is also the agriculture
secretary.
Annual domestic rice supply is seen stabilising at 24.99 to
26.86 million tonnes under the programme.
The plan also aims for annual rice price increases to be
limited to less than 1%, a 54% increase in the income of farmers
and the maintenance of sufficient buffer stocks.
The ministry said domestic rice supply currently remained
sufficient and sought to allay concerns about a looming El Nino
weather event, which can cause a severe dry spell.
With the country battling high inflation driven mainly by
food costs, the government is looking to ensure that rice
availability in particular will not be hampered.
The National Food Authority, the country's grains
stockpiling agency, has proposed importing 330,000 tonnes of
rice to cover an expected deficit in its buffer stock. Marcos
has yet to approve the proposal.
(Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz
Editing by Ed Davies)
