Rice News Roundup Philippines aiming to increase rice imports to 1.5 million tonnes

摘要

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippines wants to increase the volume of rice imports to 1.5 million tonnes in the first half of 2016 to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices stable, as the adverse effect of El Nino continues to intensify.Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the inter-agency El Nino Task Force will propose an additional 1 million tonnes of rice imports to President Benigno S. Aquino III."For 2016, we have an already approved provision of 500,000 tonnes for the first quarter, but based on our analysis of the current data we may need to increase or import another 1 million tonnes to maintain a 45-day buffer stock," Balisacan told reporters.