THE Provincial Agriculture Office (Pagro) in Misamis Oriental has assured that the province is prepared should there be scarcity of supply of rice amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
Provincial agriculturist Apollo Pacamalan said at present, rice sufficiency level in the province is only 19 percent since there is no harvest in the dry season of March and April.
But Pacamalan assured that supply of rice in the next 15 days remains sufficient, according to the National Food Authority (NFA).
He also said other neighboring places have also expressed support should the supply gets scarce.
Pagro also said the province is abundant with root crops, which could be a good substitute for rice.
Governor Yevgeny Emano has ordered Pagro to ensure sufficiency of food supply for the whole province after he declared Misamis Oriental under general community quarantine.
Pagro was directed to ensure the proper handling of agricultural products sourced from outside the province with 10 percent sodium hypochloride or any food grade disinfectant and conduct disinfectant of all agricultural products entering the province.