The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting around 3.64 million metric tons of rice inventory for this year, which it said, is equivalent to 93 days of national consumption.

The figure is almost 100 percent higher than the rice inventory recorded in December last year at only 1.9 million metric tons, according to DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo.

The national rice inventory represents the total volume of rice available within the country at a given period after subtracting the demand from various sectors such as food consumption, waste, and other uses. 

This inventory encompasses both locally-produced and imported rice. It serves as a critical indicator for assessing food security and planning for agricultural and trade policies related to rice. 

“If the DA’s national rice inventory year-end projection is realized, the national inventory at the end of 2024 will be the highest in at least a quarter of a century, topping the 3.42 million MT in 2010,” said Manalo, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The DA attributed the good projection for the rice national inventory to what it described as less pronounced effects of El Niño phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Manalo said only four percent of the 4.5 million metric tons of corn target was affected. This translated to 188,861 metric tons at the end of the dry cropping season.

“This indicates that our rice and corn supplies were not severely impacted,” Manalo said.

To mitigate the effects of the dry spell and assist affected farmers and fishers, Manalo said the DA has extended interventions across 170,469 hectares. 

As of June 6, financial aid and farm inputs amounting to P9.23 billion have been distributed to 1,174,699 beneficiaries. 

Manalo said the Office of the President also provided additional support that benefited farmers, fisherfolk, and their families across eight regions.

In preparation for the anticipated La Niña, the DA has initiated strategies focusing on water management. 

“We are collaborating closely with relevant agencies to develop action plans that prioritize managing excess water resulting from anticipated heavy rainfall,” Manalo explained. 

The DA will oversee initiatives like desilting irrigation canals, repairing and rehabilitating irrigation systems, inspecting and maintaining gates and hoists, and constructing small-scale irrigation projects and canals. 

Additionally, Manalo said they will promote submergent-tolerant and early maturing crop varieties and establish seed reserves in key areas to ensure sustained food production nationwide despite irregular weather patterns.