The Department of Agriculture (DA) remains hopeful the country’s agricultural sector would still post a growth of one to two percent despite the effects of the El Niño and La Niña on local production.
However, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. admitted the targets could be challenging to achieve.
“We started with El Niño last January and (it) ended in June, and now we’re … with La Niña.
Under El Niño, production will always be a bit lower but for La Niña, as long as there is no strong typhoon, I think we should have more production,” Tiu Laurel said during at the post-State of the Nation discussions in Pasay City yesterday.
Last year, the agriculture sector grew by 0.4 percent from 0.1 percent decline recorded in 2022.
Tiu Laurel said his views differ from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) projections that the Philippines will import as much as 4.7 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year.
The USDA adjusted its projections upward from earlier estimates of 4 million MT, citing the possible effects of Executive Order 62 that lowered rice tariffs in the country in a bid to control retail prices.
“The lowering of tariffs will really increase importation. The only reason importation will increase is because of demand, not because of lower tariff. If demand is low, even if you have zero tariff, importation will be lower. I don’t think we will reach 4.7 million MT,” Tiu Laurel said.
Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry show that as of July 11, 2.37 million MT of imported rice has reached the country.
Tiu Laurel bared plans to turn Kadiwa pop-up rolling stores into permanent brick-and-mortar stores strategically located nationwide.
The DA is eyeing 1,500 Kadiwa sites in the next three years to serve almost every municipality and city in the country.
The program also aims to enhance the farm-to-market supply chain by strengthening the connection between local producers and consumers, it added.
“Our plan for this is to eventually become cooperative-run. So, farmers and fishermen themselves can directly sell to consumers to enjoy higher income and pull down retail prices for consumers,” Tiu Laurel said.
Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel said the spread of animal diseases in the country will soon be resolved as African swine fever (ASF) vaccines are expected to be rolled out within the year.
The DA said the terms of reference for the use of ASF vaccines is being crafted and is expected to be out by August, so the bidding and awarding could be conducted by September.
“It’s an open bidding, not government (-led). As of the moment, there’s only one accredited vaccine. It will likely be awarded to that,” Tiu Laurel said.
However, the DA clarified ASF vaccines will initially be administered by government and will be utilized for mass trials for six months before they are rolled out for commercial use.
The DA said it sent a team to the US which discovered that the Q fever strain that hit goats in Marinduque is endemic to the Philippines.
However, Tiu Laurel clarified that Q fever was found in limited areas in the country and could be treated quickly with available antibiotics.
Q Fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii that poses a public health concern as it can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their excretions and body fluid.
The US Center for Disease Control said while most people recover from Q Fever without antibiotics, those displaying symptoms require treatment, typically with doxycycline.
Tiu Laurel has assured the people who handled the Q fever afflicted goats in Marinduque are doing fine.
