The Philippines has set its 2014 rice production target at 19.32million tonnes, up 4 percent compared to this year’s estimated figure of18.58 million tonnes, a senior government official has said.
According to the country’s Agriculture Undersecretary Dante Delima,the Southeast Asian nation’s rice production for 2014 may still riseonce the government starts the implementation of interventions such asthe expansion of irrigation facilities.
ThePhilippines targeted total rice self-sufficiency this year. However, aseries of natural disasters, especially typhoon Haiyan, has forced thecountry to push back its timetable for the goal.
Dalima added that the country’s self-sufficiency in rice currently stands at 97 percent.
Last year, good weather and the upgrade of the irrigation systemenabled the Philippines to produce 18.03 million tonnes of rice, arise of 8.1 percent over 2011.-VNA