The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday expressed optimism in the recovery of local agricultural production this year, particularly in the rice subsector, following significant losses incurred in 2024.

“Our target at least for the rice subsector is makabawi siya talaga at ma-reach natin iyong (to recover and reach the) 20.4 million metric tons,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.

The local palay (unhusked rice) output declined to 19.08 million MT in 2024 from 20.06 million MT palay harvest in 2023.

De Mesa said the rice sector sustained almost one million metric tons (MMT) in losses last year due to the combined effects of the El Niño phenomenon, successive weather disturbances, pests, volcanic eruption, and La Niña.

“Ngayon, wala namang major calamities pa tayo except iyong mga konti lang. Pero contributory iyong water kasi dry season na supposed to be ngayon. So iyong mga pag-ulan, nakakatulong iyan (For now, there’s no major calamities except for minimal ones. But that’s contributory water because it’s supposedly dry season now. The rain helps),” he said.

De Mesa cited the government’s intensified support to farmers through increased funding under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) for the year ahead.

“Malaking porsyento nun pupunta sa mechanization at saka sa seed component which is malaki yung may tutulong niya sa pag-recover ng (A large percentage of that will go to mechanization and seed component which will be a huge help for the recovery of) palay or rice sector,” he said.

Based on the amended RTL, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) has tripled to PHP30 billion from the previous PHP10 billion.

Of the amount, PHP15 billion will be allocated for the extension and training programs, rice farmers financial assistance, credit, soil improvement, solar-powered irrigation systems, and water impounding projects; PHP9 billion for farm mechanization; and PHP6 billion for the provision of high-quality rice seeds.

De Mesa assured the public that the latest reports of frostbite in select agricultural commodities in Northern parts of Luzon would have no impact on the overall production and retail prices of vegetables due to its “minimal” effects.

He however, noted that the overall agri-fishery output incurred a 2.18 MMT production volume loss worth PHP57.78 billion due to the combined effects of natural calamities and African swine fever (ASF).

Some 4.78 MMT of rice imports and 1.3 MMT of meat imports helped cover the demand despite the local losses, he added.

Based on the latest year-on-year growth data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the agriculture and fisheries production contracted by 2.2 percent to PHP483.58 billion in the last quarter of 2024.

In the same period, crop production was down by 3.1 at PHP281.55 billion; livestock by 6.2 percent at PHP67.67 billion; and fisheries was down by 2.1 percent at PHP62.55 billion, the PSA said.

Only the poultry subsector logged a 6.1 percent increase in production, valued at PHP71.81 billion. (PNA)