DA: Rice, meat supplies ‘sufficient’ for holidays

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country has enough supplies of rice and meat to cater to their expected rise in demand in time for the holiday season.

In a statement released Wednesday, the DA said there has been an increase in local palay production based on the supply outlook of its National Rice Program.

“A big chunk of the supply comes from the locally produced rice, and production of farmers will be enough to meet the demand towards the end of the year,” the agency said.

On Tuesday, Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives, said the projected 5.13 million metric tons of rice produced locally in the third quarter will exceed the demand of 3.7 million metric tons and it will provide a buffer stock of 1.43 million metric tons by the end of September.

For the fourth quarter, she said the local rice supply is seen to reach 6.24 million metric tons against the demand of 4.02 million metric tons. This will leave an additional buffer stock of 2.22 million metric tons by the end of the year.

The DA, however, warned that despite the ample local production of rice, retail prices may get affected by the ongoing drought in China and the presence of rice varieties from other countries.

The Federation of Free Farmers Cooperative earlier projected that prices of rice may go up by P4 per kilogram or higher due to an increase in fuel prices, which adds to the delivery cost of rice.

Local rice variants' prices currently range from P38 to P40 per kilogram. 

Livestock supply

Meanwhile, the DA said the country’s meat products, particularly local chickens and pigs, are also sufficient for the holidays.

This was confirmed to the agency by its livestock group composed of the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, and International Training Center on Pig Husbandry.

Citing its Philippine Food Supply, Demand, and Sufficiency Outlook for 2022, DA said the total broiler supply for the year is 1.82 million metric tons (MT)—1.65 million MT of which are locally produced.

“With the demand for broilers expected at around 1.64 million MT this year, consumers are assured that there will be a generous supply to last up to early 2023,” it said.

The DA also said its pork supply outlook showed a 1.79 million MT demand for the year or about 0.10 million MT higher than the country’s total supply.

“However, local pork production was estimated to be at 1.34 million MT, comprising the majority of the total pork supply. Only 0.29 million MT of pork were imported in 2022,” it added. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA News