THE National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) assures consumers of lower-priced rice by September despite the La Nina affecting rice supply and planting schedules of the farmers.
While acknowledging the challenge, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Arsenio Balisacan expressed optimism that rice prices will go down this year.
“We are expecting the price of rice to decline by September, but it will still follow global trends in pricing,” Balisacan said at the Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Monday.
However, bringing down rice prices remains a challenge, he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) undersecretary for policy, planning, and regulations Asis Perez highlighted the importance of long-term planning to mitigate the impact of La Niña.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve faced La Niña. We need a five-year plan to ensure the sector is resilient enough to cushion the impact,” he said.
He underscored the significance of weather-tolerant rice varieties in this strategy and whether the country has enough supply of the seeds.
Flood-tolerant varieties typically have shorter gestation and maturity periods, allowing for quicker harvests and potentially minimizing losses due to La Niña, he explained.
Perez highlighted the use of satellite technology for advanced weather forecasting, allowing agencies to better predict La Niña’s effects.
However, he acknowledged that the challenge lies in ensuring that information reaches farmers beforehand.
“Effective communication is crucial. Farmers need to receive this data well in advance so they can prepare accordingly,” Perez said.
He added that the government acknowledges that complete control over La Niña is impossible.
“The real key is being well-prepared. This includes long-term planning, promoting weather-tolerant rice varieties, and improving communication with farmers. It’s a multi-faceted approach, but it’s the best way to ensure rice security for Filipinos,” Perez said.
The combination of immediate and long-term strategies could have prepared the country to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall and ensure rice affordability and food security, he added.
