Arroyo: we will import rice until at least 2013
Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Philippines will need to keep importing rice until at least 2013 to make up for a domestic shortfall, despite plans to make the country self sufficient. The declaration was made by President Gloria Arroyo at a government meeting yesterday, in a sign of increasing concern over spiralling cereal prices.
Arroyo added that long term plans for self-sufficiency were being undermined by the current emergency, particularly the hike in rice prices and the halt in exports by some producing nations.
The Philippines is one of the world's biggest rice importers and the spiralling price has badly hit the archipelago’s fragile economy, with a population of over 88 million. The price of rice from Thailand, the world's biggest exporter, topped 1,000 US dollars per metric ton this month, triple the January price. At the same time, Bangkok has limited the quantities that can be exported in order to insure it’s down domestic supply. Up until now Manila has only been able to guarantee half of its annual demand, which stands at 2.1 tonnes.
Arroyo has promise to invest over 1 billion dollars to improve rice production. But there are many problems to be resolved: Philippine terrain is not conducive to rice production and frequent summer typhoons destroy the paddy fields.
The food crisis is also worrying the United Nations because it is creating a new class of poor and social revolt.
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