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Farmers in Barangay Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan plant seedlings in their farm lots at the start of the second planting season Thursday, September 14, 2023. The farmers lost their crops during the first planting season of the year due to the flood caused by typhoon Egay. The farmers are now worried they might not be able to recoup their investments even with a second planting as traders will opt to buy their produce at a very low price due to the government-mandated price ceiling. Maria Tan ABS-CBN News

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RICE-PRICE-CAP

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1719217438569Average post-harvest losses in rice 06242024.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Farmers in Barangay Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan plant seedlings in their farm lots at the start of the second planting season Thursday, September 14, 2023. Maria Tan ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Farmers in Barangay Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan plant seedlings in their farm lots at the start of the second planting season Thursday, September 14, 2023. Maria Tan ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The country is losing an average of 342,000 metric tons of rice, or equivalent to P7.89 billion in post-harvest losses annually, Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Arnel de Mesa reported on Monday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/23/urban-farming-pushed-to-address-food-production-issues">• Urban farming pushed to address food production issues</a> </div><p>Aside from rice, the country is also losing an average of 151,000 metric tons in corn, equivalent to P2.87 billion annually, in post-harvest losses. </p><p>The DA attributes these losses mostly to inadequate supply chain infrastructure, as the country still lags behind other agricultural countries especially in terms of post harvest facilities. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/21/agricultural-losses-due-to-el-ni-o-hits-p9-5-billion-says-da-1504">• Agricultural losses due to El Niño hits P9.5 billion, says DA</a></div><p>The country has a cold storage capacity of 37 cubic meters per 1,000 residents, lower than 116 of Vietnam, 132 of China, and 200 for North American countries. </p><p>De Mesa also said that more than 64,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads is still needed. </p><p>Because of these, the DA is now focused on building post-harvest facilities, such as farm-to-market roads. </p><p>&quot;Kapag pangit ang daan mo made-deteriorate yung agri products mo,&quot; De Mesa said. </p><p>&quot;Ang mandato suportahan ang magsasaka. We will continue to support our farmers sa need nila sa input sa pagpapababa ng post harvest losses and improve logistics,&quot; he added. </p><p>The DA is also proposing a P513 billion budget for next year, a large part of which will be devoted to irrigation. </p><p>Right now, 1.02 million hectares, or 33 percent of irrigable lands still rely on rainwater. </p><p>&quot;We will continue to lobby sa Congress na mabigyan ng additional na budget,&quot; De Mesa said. </p><p>&quot;The private sector will come in and help us na ma-facilitate yung mga investment kasi nga hindi kaya ng DA alone yung ganito kalaki,&quot; De Mesa added. </p><p>In an earlier talk, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel highlighted the need to improve on irrigation facilities to increase agricultural production in the country. </p><p>Laurel said building solar-powered cold storage facilities and additional ports will help the country in terms of food security. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qmbjjP46SLo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The DA is also proposing a P513 billion budget for next year, a large part of which will be devoted to irrigation.</p>

The DA is also proposing a P513 billion budget for next year, a large part of which will be devoted to irrigation.

Average post-harvest losses in rice more than P7 billion per year, says DA

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Average post-harvest losses in rice more than P7 billion per year, says DA

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 24, 2024 04:24 PM PHT

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DA

agriculture

Department of Agriculture

agri

ANC

rice

corn

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