Rice production to slowdown up to 4% due to ‘Yolanda’

This photo from the Facebook group Leyte Community Page shows houses destroyed by the strong winds caused by Typhoon Yolanda in Ormoc, Leyte.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects rice production in the country to slowdown by three to four percent this year owing to the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” Radio Inquirer 990AM said Tuesday.

The report quoted Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante Delima as saying that the Philippines’ projected rate of rice production will have to be trimmed down to four to five percent in the next three years. That is below the food self-sufficiency program’s six percent target and the 8.08 percent growth recorded last year.

The agency is, however, optimistic that the country will have sustainable growth and will achieve its goal of rice self-sufficiency by next year.

Delima said rice production has consistently increased in the last years, from 3.27 percent growth in 2009, 5.78 percent in 2011, and 8.08 percent in 2013.

The government will have to extend more support to the farming sector in the form of irrigation and agricultural equipment to ensure continued growth.

Considered among the world’s strongest typhoons, “Yolanda” (Haiyan) ravaged Eastern Visayas and nearby provinces last November 8 and damaged P34 billion worth of infrastructure and agriculture. Almost P7 billion worth of crops were destroyed, in addition to the P5.96 billion worth of damages to the fisheries sector. With Louie Garcia, Radio Inquirer 990AM

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