UNMILLED rice damaged by the six typhoons that ravaged the Philippines from June to October this year have reached 902,285 metric tons (MT), making it unlikely for the government to reach its paddy rice production target of 17.29 million metric tons (MMT) for 2011, according to documents obtained from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In milled terms, rice lost to typhoons “Egay,” “Falcon,” “Juaning,” “Mina,” “Pedring,” and “Quiel” reached 586,544 MT. The damage caused by the six typhoons alone have slashed by 9.13 percent the total projected palay output of 9.88 MMT for July to December. 

The biggest damage was caused by typhoons Pedring and Quiel at 760,207 MT palay or an equivalent of 494,135 MT of milled rice. The two typhoons reduced paddy rice output for the second semester by 7.69 percent.

If the projected future damages of 494,008 MT of palay will be included in the computation, total unmilled rice lost could reach 1.396 MMT by the end of 2011. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration Services (Pag-asa) said earlier that the country will be visited by three or four more typhoons until the end of the year. 

By end of 2011, documents from the DA showed that the Philippines is projected to have a national rice inventory of 2.6 MMT, good for 76 days based on an average daily consumption of 31,000 MT. 

Documents from the DA showed that the department would need P230 million to implement rice ratooning in 100,000 hectares of rain-fed farmlands and the distribution of 2,000 units of shallow tube wells.

The DA is also looking at providing seed subsidy as well as undertaking the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, providing access to fertilizer and mass utilization of flood, drought and saline-resistant rice varieties. 

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the government would limit rice imports to 500,000 MT next year. 

An inter-agency body on rice and corn is currently deliberating on the figures and would come out with a decision on the import figure for 2012 next month.

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Angelito Banayo said the government is studying the possibility of increasing imports in view of the damage caused by typhoons Pedring and Quiel. 

Based on data from the years 2006 to 2010, the palay subsector sustained the biggest damage when typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc on rice-growing areas. The two typhoons destroyed a total of 1.38 MMT of palay in 2009. 

Despite these, Alcala remains optimistic that the Philippines could achieve rice self-sufficiency or significantly reduce its reliance on rice imports by 2013. 

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics disclosed in its monthly report that the Philippines has a total rice inventory of 2.41 MMT as of Sept. 1. The volume is good for 71 days.