June 8, 2006

 

Philippines expects hike in farm production

 

 

The Philippine Department of Agriculture would likely increase farm production targets for the year if the planting area for rice and corn increases by 4 percent in the next quarter, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban said Thursday (Jun 8).

 

Full-year production growth target for the sector currently stands at 4 percent.

 

But the agriculture department would seriously consider increasing the target if a planned hike in planting area for rice and corn is achieved.

 

"We would consider raising our target if our planting area for rice and corn increases by around 3 percent-4 percent by August," Panganiban told reporters.

 

Rice and corn - two major crops planted in the Philippines - account for around 20 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of the country's total farm output.

 

According to Panganiban, the country's weather bureau has predicted that at least three big typhoons would hit the country by next quarter, which is when the country's main crop for rice and corn would be planted.

 

"The increase in planting area that we will achieve would depend on the weather condition during the planting season," he said.

 

While increased rainfall is favourable to rice cultivation, the onslaught of a major typhoon could be destructive to rice and corn plantations, particularly during the vegetative stage, he said. 

 

The agriculture department has set a paddy rice output target of 15.1 million tonnes while corn production could range between 5.9 to 6 million tonnes.

 

Such production levels, if achieved, would be record-highs for both crops.

 

The farm sector accounts for a fifth of the country's gross domestic product.