Black Sea Grain.com
The government will acquire a fourth of the country's imported rice requirements, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the National Food Authority (NFA) Council may purchase 120,000 metric tons of rice from either Vietnam or Cambodia to serve as the grains agency’s buffer stock during the lean months.
“We are looking at the possibility of importing rice through government-to-government deal,” Alcala told reporters on sidelines of a food security forum in Quezon City.
The Philippines has an existing rice supply agreement with Vietnam, which was extended to 2013, he said.
Alcala said the Philippines is not obliged to buy solely from Vietnam, adding that the Cambodian government also expressed willingness to sell their produce.
“Actually, even Cambodia is now proposing to have a memorandum of understanding with us. They are offering us cheaper rice,” Alcala said.
Earlier, the DA announced plans to import 500,000 metric tons of rice this year, with 380,000 to be imported by private companies and farmers’ cooperatives.
Lawyer Gilberto Lauengco of the NFA-Bids and Award Committee said the private sector auction for rice imports will be held on March 19, followed by the tender for farmers’ cooperative and organizations on March 26.
Last year, the Philippines imported 860,000 metric tons of rice, including 600,000 coursed through the private sector, and 60,000 through farmers' groups. The NFA imported 200,000 metric tons.
The government will acquire a fourth of the country's imported rice requirements, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the National Food Authority (NFA) Council may purchase 120,000 metric tons of rice from either Vietnam or Cambodia to serve as the grains agency’s buffer stock during the lean months.
“We are looking at the possibility of importing rice through government-to-government deal,” Alcala told reporters on sidelines of a food security forum in Quezon City.
The Philippines has an existing rice supply agreement with Vietnam, which was extended to 2013, he said.
Alcala said the Philippines is not obliged to buy solely from Vietnam, adding that the Cambodian government also expressed willingness to sell their produce.
“Actually, even Cambodia is now proposing to have a memorandum of understanding with us. They are offering us cheaper rice,” Alcala said.
Earlier, the DA announced plans to import 500,000 metric tons of rice this year, with 380,000 to be imported by private companies and farmers’ cooperatives.
Lawyer Gilberto Lauengco of the NFA-Bids and Award Committee said the private sector auction for rice imports will be held on March 19, followed by the tender for farmers’ cooperative and organizations on March 26.
Last year, the Philippines imported 860,000 metric tons of rice, including 600,000 coursed through the private sector, and 60,000 through farmers' groups. The NFA imported 200,000 metric tons.
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