Rice output in Philippines expected to see 9.2% year-over-year increase in 2012 despite damages caused by typhoon Bopha on Mindanao's farmlands, agriculture secretary says

Nevin Barich

MANILA, Philippines , December 13, 2012 (Xinhua News Agency) – Philippine agriculture officials expect fourth quarter rice output to increase by 9.2 percent on year despite the damages wrought by typhoon Bopha (local name: Pablo) on Mindanao's farmlands.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said Thursday the government is not deviating from its earlier projection that rice production will hit 6.49 million metric tons in the fourth quarter.

"The rice sector in Mindanao was not badly hit because most of the rice planted are still in what we call the vegetative stage," Alcala told reporters.

Data from the agriculture department revealed that as of Dec. 12, Bopha destroyed a total of 16,588 tons of rice.

(c) 2012 Xinhua News Agency

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.