The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a potential partnership to fund a nationwide rice infrastructure project. The initiative, aimed at building post-harvest facilities including dryers and mills, may cost at least P11 billion.
DA assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa revealed in a virtual briefing that the project will also support rice cooperatives and associations. If studies by JICA consultant, Sanyo, prove favorable, the project could begin as early as next year or by 2027 at most.
The project, expected to be funded through a loan, will focus on rice-producing areas to bolster the National Food Authority’s (NFA) operations. It aims to help the NFA meet the requirements of the amended Rice Tariffication Law, which mandates a 15-day buffer stock by procuring 880,000 metric tons of palay.
De Mesa, who is part of a DA delegation currently in Japan, also said the collaboration with JICA could secure a budget ranging from USD200 million to USD500 million. This comes amid efforts by the NFA to modernize its rice storage and milling infrastructure to boost rice recovery and enhance farmer profitability.
