Prospects for the secondary paddy and maize crops for harvest in May- June are unfavourable. Preliminary indications suggest a 13 percent decline in this year's secondary paddy output to about 4.2 million tonnes, and a 9 percent decline in dry season maize output to 1.7 million tonnes reflecting reduced plantings due to drier weather conditions related to the El Niņo weather anomalies. Provinces particularly affected include South Cotabato, Miasmic Oriental and parts of Zamboanga del Sur in Mindanao.
Imports of rice and maize in 1998 are likely to increase due to expected weather-related declines in production and growth in population and consumption. The NFA has placed orders for 650 000 tonnes of rice for delivery in the first half of 1998.