GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Agricultural officials in South Cotabato remained optimistic in sustaining its targeted palay harvests of at least 28,500 metric tons (MT) for the next three months, despite the onslaught of the long dry spell that have hit the province the past many months now.

South Cotabato agriculture office chief Reynaldo Legaste said the province’s harvestable palay area would reach at least 7,500 hectares from April to June.

He said that based on their latest field evaluation, his office is expecting that at least 2,500 hectares of palay area would be due for harvest this month and another 2,500 hectares each for May and June.

Based on the average palay yield of 3.8 metric tons per hectare of the palay-producing towns in the South Cotabato area, the projected harvest in the province would reach about 28,500 metric tons from April to June.

Legaste said the projected rice production would be enough to sustain the province’s rice requirements  for the next four months.

“We expect the rice production will even increase when the rainfall volume would return to normal in the coming weeks,” Legaste told reporters during a forum in Koronadal City.