HARVESTS of palay during summer had already reached 7.3 million metric tons (MMT), or 200,000 metric tons more than the 7.1 MMT targeted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap also said the department expects the summer harvest to go beyond 7.3 MMT as the area harvested covers only 92 percent of the 1.94-million hectares planted to palay for the dry season.

The total volume of palay harvested is almost 9 percent higher than the 6.7 MMT of palay harvested during last year’s crop.

DA figures show that Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley were the top producers of palay in the dry season. As of end-June, Central Luzon produced 1.4 MMT of palay, while Cagayan Valley farmers produced 1.13 MMT.

Farmers in all regions have harvested their crops in more than 90 percent of all palay fields, except for those in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Bicol.

For the wet season, which started in May, the DA said it is hopeful that palay areas would produce more than 10 MMT.

The DA is banking on the immediate rehabilitation of farm areas ravaged by Typhoon Frank in the Visayas to achieve its target palay production for 2008.

Farm areas in the Visayas are critical as the DA turned to them last year for its quick turnaround program.

The DA is targeting to produce 17.32 MMT of palay this year, or 6.67 percent higher than the 16.24 MMT produced in 2007.

More state interventions needed for the poor–Salceda

LEGAZPI CITY—Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, one of President Arroyo’s key economic advisers, sees something wrong with the present government’s economic policies as he called on Malacañang to institute corrections that would require more state interventions on behalf of the poor.

Government to grant additional P29.8B in loans to SMEs in 2008

IN the hope of creating more jobs this year, the National Antipoverty Commission (NAPC) said the government is looking at extending around P29.8 billion worth of loans to small and medium enterprises.

IRRI official urges government to hike rice production

AN official of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) urged the government to focus on increasing rice production to augment the huge demand of the bloating population in the Philippines growing at an average 2 percent every year.

Summer harvests of palay exceed target of 7.1 MMT

HARVESTS of palay during summer had already reached 7.3 million metric tons (MMT), or 200,000 metric tons more than the 7.1 MMT targeted by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

DA sets up P800-M loan program for small farmers

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has set up the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP) which will provide low-interest loans to palay growers and small farmers.

Insurgents urged to work with PRES project proponents

THE Department of Energy (DOE) recently appealed to members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to help the Paris Manila Technology Corp. (Pamatec) in its implementation and installation of solar home systems under its Philippine Rule Electrification Service (PRES).

EU to import more vegetable oils from Southeast Asia

THE European Union has already sounded its intention to import more vegetable oils from Southeast Asian nations starting next year when Europe’s new directive on the increased use of biofuels among member-states takes effect.