By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Amid the extreme heat brought about by El Niño throughout the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday (05 May 2024) still expressed optimism that more rice may be harvested this year compared to last year.
This was the bold prediction of DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa when interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB who said they expected 20.4 million metric tons of rice to be harvested in 2024, compared to the 20.06 million metric tons reaped in 2023.
“Inaasahan natin na mas malaki ang ating harvest ngayong taon. Kasi nga last year ay 20 [million metric tons], ngayon ay 20.4 [million metric tons]. Inaasahan natin ngayong wet season, mas mataas din ang ating inaasahang harvest,” the DA spokesperson quipped.
De Mesa, however, admitted that the country’s rice harvest slightly decreased during the first quarter of the year by 100,000 metric tons.
“‘Yun ay napakaliit. Less than 1% [that is very small, only less than 1%],” he said.
De Mesa said the loss can be “easily” augmented through importation.
He said the country had already imported 1.6 million metric tons of rice.
(el Amigo/MNM)
