Cebu depends on other areas for basic food commodities

[Balita News Services]

CEBU CITY, June 28 (PNA)--Cebu was dependent on other provinces for
basic food commodities like rice, white corn, fish and pork last year.

Records at the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in 1998 show
that Cebu failed to meet the demand of its population for those
commodities except for beef.

With a population of a little over three million, as estimated by
the National Statistics Office in 1998, Cebu produced only 6,314 metric
tons of rice and 32,593 metric tons of white corn--representing a
sufficiency level of only four percent and 19 percent, respectively.

This meant a deficit of some 152,000 metric tons of rice and
142,000 metric tons of white corn.

Cebu, which is surrounded by water, is expected to be rich in
aquamarine resources.

However, the 1998 BAS figures reveal that fish production was
scarce, although better than rice in terms of sufficiency level.

With a production of 13,620 metric tons last year, fish supply in
the province met only 12 percent of the population's consumption which
is about 111,000 metric tons for 36 kilogram per person annually.

Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 Director Rodolfo Orais said Cebu
may be better able to supply fish than rice or other commodities.

Orais suggested that local officials drafting the food security
program prioritize projects related to the development of the fish
industry in the province.

The dwindling fish supply in the province is primarily attributed
to the over exploitation of marine waters, according to the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Aside from fish, Cebu also could not fully meet the demand for
pork.

Still, there was enough pork to serve 61 percent of the province's
total consumption of around 43,000 metric tons.

However, the province had excess beef of 244 percent.

Cebu was able to produce 8,217 metric tons of beef when population
consumption last year was only about 3,300 metric tons. (PNA)
JV/wpt/EB/RE

PNA 06281044