Rice production of Western Visayas is expected to hit the two million-metric ton mark this year, based on initial figures obtained by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales said the forecast of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics as of November 15 indicates that the region's rice production already reached 1.99 million metric tons.

“There is an increase in our production, considering we only had 1.95 million metric tons last year,” Nacionales said.

Production picked up in the months of June to December, after crops were affected by the El Niño phenomenon from January to April this year.

The DA's latest assessment of agricultural situation in the country shows that Region 6 ranks number two in terms of rice production.

Nacionales said that for 2008, the DA 6 hopes to do much better because their target is already pegged at 2.2 million metric tons.*NLG

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