Philippines plans to increase rice imports to ensure domestic supply
The Philippine government is seeking to import 300,000 tonnes of rice to ensure sufficient domestic supply as the country is trying to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on March 31.
A Filipino farmer scoops rice grains in the country's Cagayan province (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) - 💛The Philippine government is seeking to import 300,000 tonnes of rice to ensure sufficient domestic supply as the country is trying to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on March 31
The Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases has got President Rodrigo Duterte's approval for a government-to-government rice purchase arrangement, he added.
The Department of Agriculture and other government agencies has been reaching out to Southeast Asian rice suppliers to negotiate for a deal.
The Philippines became the world's biggest rice importer in 2019 with purchases estimated at a record of 2.9 million tonnes. It usually purchases rice from Vietnam and a certain amount from Thailand.
﷽ Global food security concerns are mounting as some governments contemplate restricting the flow of staple foods to fight the widening COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Philippines will retain its status as the world’s biggest rice importer in 2020, according to the US Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural service (USDA-FAS).
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A Filipino farmer scoops rice grains in the country's Cagayan province (Photo: AFP) 
