DA asks traders to halt 5% broken rice imports

MANILA, Philippines — Local rice traders have been asked to stop importing five percent broken rice varieties which could compete with the incoming local harvest, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The agriculture chief said the continued entry of higher quality imported rice could compete with local harvest, which will begin during the second half of the year.

“We will no longer allow the entry of rice with five percent broken grains into the Philippines starting this July. Only rice with 25 percent broken grains or worse will be permitted for entry,” Tiu Laurel told reporters.

He said that rice importers and traders have already agreed “in principle” to stop importing five percent broken rice varieties into the country.

“Importers need to help our farmers and processors, otherwise, they will simply lobby against one another,” he said.

The move will ensure that the price of newly harvested palay or unhusked rice during the September to October period no longer drops to P8 to P12 per kilo, like last year when farmgate prices declined.

Tiu Laurel had also mandated the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute propagate higher quality yielding rice seeds to local farmers.

This move comes as the Tariff Commission investigates the imposition of safeguard measures against rice imports from other countries, following a request from the DA.

Tiu Laurel earlier issued Department Order 18, which stated that an initial investigation by the agency found the existence of a causal link between increased imports and serious injury to the domestic rice industry.

He added that the TC’s likely recommendation would be either to increase rice tariff safeguards or impose a quantitative restriction in case of damages identified to the local rice industry.

“Right now, we are talking with importers and rice millers and we are regularly meeting with them. What lies ahead for us is this harvest period from mid-September to October,” Tiu Laurel said.