Philippines Attains All-time High 1st Semester Palay, Corn Harvests

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala proudly reports that the Philippines has achieved record-breaking harvests of palay (unmilled rice) and corn for the first six months of 2011, at 7.577 million metric tons (MT), and 3.309 million MT, respectively. The previous highest 1st semester harvest of rice was in 2009 (7.376 million MT) and for corn in 2008 (3.293 million MT). He said the all-time high yields were due to the expansion of harvested area as a result of increase in irrigated area primarily through the rehabilitation and repair of irrigation facilities, good weather, increased use of quality seeds, encouraging prices, and production, postharvest and marketing support provided to farmers by the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with local government units and the private sector. Joining him during a media briefing August 10, 2011 at the DA central office in Quezon City are DA undersecretary for policy and planning Segfredo Serrano and assistant secretary for agribusiness and DA spokesperson Salvador Salacup.