Philipines Plans to Import 1 Million Tons Rice 2011

Philippines have planning to import one million tons rice in 2011 cause bad weather conditions brought down second quarter farm production by 2.18% and by 2.88% in the first quarter. Philipines imports in 2011 is well below record imports of 2.45 million tons this year.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration projected that the La Ni?a weather phenomenon, which is characterized by excessive rainfall, started in July and will? intensify in the next few months.

But the extensive damage caused by the El Ni?o weather phenomenon, coupled with the delay in planting in certain rice areas in the Philippines, could make it hard for the sector to recover lost production in the first half of 2010.

Agriculture consultant Pablito M. Villegas who is also a member of the Organic Producers and Trade Association and convenor of the Inter-Continental Network of Organic Farmers Organizations, does not expect the farm sector to fully recover from the destruction brought about by the drought, and later in the year, floods resulting from? La Ni?a.

"Due to the combined effects of El Ni?o and the La Ni?a, even the third quarter will be on the decline, particularly for rice, corn, vegetables, livestock and fisheries.