LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday (Dec. 22) said the Philippines recorded the highest rice production level producing 19.44 million metric tons for 2022.
This is higher than the 18.81 million metric tons produced in 2019 based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) record. The PSA also recorded that in 2018, the country produced 19.07 million metric tons.
Dar said “I just got the report this morning and record volume rice production is amounting to 19.44 million metric tons. This has surpassed the highest rice production in previous years,” he said.
“Ito na yung new record for the country to have reached this level of rice production (This rice production level is the newest Philippine record),” the Secretary told media on the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the PHP40 million processing and packaging facility at the Benguet Agripinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) located at this capital town.
The Secretary said the increase in production lowers the country’s rice production deficit.
“Naitaas natin ng 3 percent although we were looking at 93% so ang ibig sabihin mas kokonti na ang deficit natin (we were able to raise the production rate by 3 percent although the target was 93 percent. This only means that the country’s deficit is lowered),” he said.
He said that the country achieved a high production rate despite the series of typhoons that passed the country and the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
The Secretary said that every year, the government increased its targets to be able to cut on the rice importation needs of the whole country.
He said that the biggest contributor of local rice production is Central Luzon followed by Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Region.
In the Visayas, Ilo-ilo produces the most quantity of rice while Regions 10 and 12 are the biggest contributor in Mindanao of the country’s total rice production.
Dr. Cameron Odsey, regional director of the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera said the region is 106 percent rice sufficient with produce coming from the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga and Ifugao. (PNA)
Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday (Dec. 22) said the country has surpassed its record rice production level achieving a 19.44 million metric tons of rice for 2020. Dar said this is the country’s new record which was achieved despite the series of typhoons amid the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. By HENT
