Philippine rice import to reach 10-year high due to drought
Thursday, 23 August 2007
MANILA, Aug 22 (Xinhua): The Philippines' rice import this year is expected to reach a 10-year high of 1.87 million tons, due to an El Nino dry phenomenon, a local newspaper reported today.
The Department of Agriculture said it had hoped to avert any additional importation on top of the 1.61 million tons of rice that has been contracted, the Manila Bulletin reported.
Jessup P. Navarro, the administrator of the National Food Authority that oversees the country's rice importation, said earlier that the "lean months" have extended due to the drought, the daily newspaper said.
The lean months in the Philippines traditionally start in July and end in September. Rain normally becomes abundant at the start of the planting season in May or June.
The Department of Agriculture said it had hoped to avert any additional importation on top of the 1.61 million tons of rice that has been contracted, the Manila Bulletin reported.
Jessup P. Navarro, the administrator of the National Food Authority that oversees the country's rice importation, said earlier that the "lean months" have extended due to the drought, the daily newspaper said.
The lean months in the Philippines traditionally start in July and end in September. Rain normally becomes abundant at the start of the planting season in May or June.