Rather pricey rice and pork in markets at the moment is seen improving in the immediate term as farmers harvest the grains and as more vaccines against the African swine fever (ASF) become more available, the Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday.
Arnel de Mesa, DA spokesperson, said the price of regular milled and well-milled rice average P52 per kilo in January but has eased to P49 per kilo in February.
According to de Mesa, rice prices should improve in the weeks ahead as grains harvest begin in earnest this month and peak around April.
“We expect the farm gate price of palay to go down and eventually, retail prices, too,” he added.
Even with the El Niño disruptions on domestic crops, particularly on rice, price hikes remain minimal, the DA insists.
The DA estimated that no more than 7,000 hectares or only 0.5 percent of land planted to rice have been ruined by El Niño, which is “very small in terms of total rice area.”
“In terms of production, that is only about 0.11 percent. The effect is not that much since we are already harvesting. Its worst effects also did not occur during the productive stage of palay,” de Mesa further said.
Also, the DA is hopeful the ASF vaccine from the United States and Vietnam pass muster testing at the the Food and Drug Administration within the year to allow for its commercial distribution in the country.
“Still, it is expected the price of pork will stabilize. Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, local pork production is good as more hog raisers recover from losses even with the continued spread of ASF in the country,” de Mesa said.
The infections have not been contained as mobility protocols become an issue, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao. Nevertheless, the various stakeholders should resolve the contentious protocols soon, de Mesa said.
The price of local well-milled rice ranges from P45 to P58 per kilo and regular milled at P50 per kilo.
Imported well milled rice ranges from P50 to P55 per kilo while imported regular milled rice sell from P50 to P51 per kilo.
Imported special variety rice sell from P57 to P65 a kilo and from P50 to P65 for premium.
Special variety domestic rice sell from P56 to P65 per kilo and premium from P50 to P61 per kilo.
Pork kasım and pork liempo sell from P290 to P370 per kilo and P340 to P420 per kilo, respectively.
