Phl exports premium rice after 30 years

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines was able to export high quality rice for the first time in 30 years, the Department of Agriculture announced on Friday.

“Ang amin pong naunang projection ay ang maka-export ng 100 metric tons of premium rice, but we have already exported 400 metric tons of premium rice- red rice, black rice and organic rice- and the year is not yet over,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

The agriculture chief said rice farmers will be encouraged to plant more premium rice once the country reaches rice self-sufficiency and an adequate buffer stock. He added that there is a strong demand for premium rice in Hong Kong in Singapore, but they don't have any production.

Alcala said the export of premium rice is a good sign since the Philippines has been importing rice for the past three decades. President Benigno S. Aquino III earlier vowed that the country will achieve self-sufficiency by 2014, but it has yet to happen.