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Philippines to import 600,000 tonnes of rice in 2015

The Philippines’ National Food Authority initially approved the importation of 600,000 tonnes of rice in 2015 amid lower rice production and damage inflicted by typhoons this year, Manila Standard Today reported on December 12.
The Philippines’ National Food Authority initially approved theimportation of 600,000 tonnes of rice in 2015 amid lower rice productionand damage inflicted by typhoons this year, Manila Standard Todayreported on December 12.

The paper said the import is to augmentbuffer stocks, a clear indication that the country is far from achievinga self-sufficiency status.

The Philippines ’ riceproduction shrank in the first nine months of 2014, and the countrycannot achieve self-sufficiency, at least in the immediate future, itsaid.

The paper also quoted economic Planning Secretary ArsenioBalisacan as saying that agriculture production has suffered from strongtyphoons that battered the country early this year./.
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