The Department of Agriculture (DA) projected that the country’s rice imports will reach 5 million metric tons this year due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on local production.
During Tuesday’s budget briefing, Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel said the country would typically need to import 3.8 million to 4 million metric tons.
“But since we are facing El Niño, we are projecting that we might need to import up to 5 million tons for this year,” Tiu Laurel said.
“For next year naman, malamang babalik tayo sa 3.8 kasi nga parang we are already front-loading what we need for the first quarter of 2027. And we need to maintain more than 60-day buffer dahil nga sa– iba-iba talaga ‘yung klima ngayon,” he added.
The DA chief said that the rice supply of the country is “quite secure” since it already imported 3.8 million metric tons as of last week.
“Although may tama tayo na about 60,000 hectares as of yesterday (due to Habagat), but mukhang maayos pa rin ‘yung harvest natin nitong harvest season na ‘to. That should carry us over until the end of the year,” he added.
The DA’s budget proposal for 2027 is at P198.4 billion, 8% lower than this year’s P215.694 billion
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