Philippines Hoping To Attain Self-Sufficiency By 2010

The Philippine Department of Agriculture has announced that the government was firming up its plan to attain rice self-sufficiency by the year 2010.

According to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, the plan, which will soon be submitted to the president for final approval, was crafted in collaboration with former agriculture secretaries.

Philippine rice imports for the year could reach 2.1 million MT, which is near the record level of 2.2 million MT hit in the late 1990s following a severe and prolonged El Nino-induced dry spell.