PH rice output hits new record high in 2023 — PBBM
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
The Philippines has produced a record-high 20 million metric tons of rice in 2023, beating by 1.5 percent the country’s rice production in the same period in 2022, President Marcos said on Saturday, Feb. 3.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
The Chief Executive attended the ceremonial palay harvesting and distribution of various assistance in Candaba, Pampanga.
“Dahil sa ating sama-samang pagsisikap, nagtamo tayo ng tala ng ani noong 2023 na umabot sa mahigit 20 milyong metric ton ng palay (Because of our joint hard work, we were able to record a production of more than 20 million metric ton of rice last 2023),” he said in his speech.
This production registered a 1.5 percent, or 300,000 metric tons, increase from the 19.76 million metric tons of palay produced in 2022.
The increase came from the 0.23 percent increase in area harvested and 1.3 percent improvement in yield.
The record-high volume of rice production in 2023 contributed to the overall value of production in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which is recorded at P1.763 trillion in 2023, higher than the PhP1.757 trillion level in 2022.
Marcos attributed the increase in last year’s rice production to the government’s efforts of providing and distributing high-quality seedlings and fertilizers to farmers.
On Saturday, the Chief Executive led the ceremonial harvesting of palay in Barangay Mandili in Candaba, where he also distributed various assistance to farmers including hauling trucks, seeds, financial assistance, among others to more than 12,000 farmer-beneficiaries and 10 farmers’ cooperatives and associations.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), which the President previously held, also provided fertilizer discount vouchers worth P99.8 million in the province.
It also distributed P5 million in grant for working capital and hauling vehicles to 150 farmers, as well as construction of agricultural infrastructure.
But the Marcos administration vowed to provide more government support programs for increased rice production in 2024.
The DA National Program already allocated P31 billion for various projects, P17 billion for the Philippine Solar-Irrigation Project, and P1.2 billion for the construction and improvement of small-scale irrigation projects.
The agency also funded the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund with P10 billion. This will enhance the competitiveness of the rice industry through various interventions, such as rice seed development, provision of farm equipment, and credit and extension services.