Tandag City (April 25) -- "Surigao del Sur, as a second rice producing province of CARAGA Region is not experiencing rice shortage", said Surigao del Sur Provincial Agriculturist M. Marcos Quico in an interview conducted by PIA-Surigao del Sur.

According to Quico, as a "rice basket" province in North Eastern Mindanao, around 20,830 hectares total area is planted with both irrigated and rainfed rice during wet season from November 2007-April 2008. Of this total land area, around 4,406 hectares partially harvested last March 2008, and the remaining 16,424 hectares can be harvested starting this month to June, this year.

"Last year, the province produced 139,869.50 metric tons of fresh palay for two seasons cropping. Milled rice production reaches to 80,500 metric tons, and around 62,150.67 metric tons was the demand, while the rest were considered 'surplus', based from the Provincial Agriculture records", Quico said.

It was also learned from Quico that some local traders were coming from nearby provinces and the National Food Authority (NFA) where farmers tend to sell their production in a reasonable price.

As of press time, local traders price for fresh palay were range to P14.00-P14.50 per kilo while the NFA is still at its peak price amounting to P17 per kilo dried palay.

Meanwhile, commercial rice in the market ranges between P26.00-P28.00 per kilo, and NFA rice is still at P18.25 per kilo and are always available to all the Tindahan Natin Outlets. (PIA-SDS) [top]