THE Philippines loses nearly 900,000 metric tons of rice each year between farm and market, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
In a Senate budget hearing, PhilRice Deputy Executive Director Flordeliza H. Bordey said in a senate budget hearing on Tuesday that the losses were due to mishandling and poor storage practices.
“Almost 889,000 metric tons is the estimate used by the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) from all types of losses,” Ms. Bordey said.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the PSA loss assumption is a 6.5% wastage rate every year. The PSA estimates 2017 production at 19.28 million metric tons of palay.
“It is a constant 6.5% year-on-year. These losses actually occur during distribution,” Mr. Piñol said.
Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said that the Department of Agriculture could have lowered the import requirement by minimizing handling losses. The Philippines imports about 7% of its rice requirement.
Senator Loren B. Legarda said that the DA should look into ways to reduce waste.
“One of the recommendations is packaging rice in the public markets. If we can sell rice in packets of one or two kilos, it will be safe,” Mr. Piñol said, adding that such packaging measures are being implemented by the National Food Authority.
Mr. Piñol said that open sacks are prone to losses due to spillage. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
