In July 2002, the typhoons Chata’an, Nakri and Halong and a tropical depression Juan brought torrential rainfall over the main island Luzon causing heavy floods and landslides affecting 1.6 million people in 26 provinces. More than 140 lives were lost and extensive damage to infrastructure was reported. Some 40 000 hectares of agricultural land were flooded, but the heavy rains had a favourable effect on agriculture in general. Furthermore, in mid-August tropical depression Milenyo swept through Luzon and the Visayas, with heavy rainfall causing 39 deaths from landslides and other flood related accidents.
The 2002 main season paddy and maize crops were affected by dry conditions in May, which reduced the area planted to paddy in the key producing regions of Luzon, and early growth of both crops. As a result, the aggregate 2002 paddy crop is provisionally forecast at 12.6 million tonnes, some 4 percent below that of 2001, while maize production could also be less than last year. Reflecting the slightly lower harvests and plans to increase the country’s buffer stocks, rice imports in 2002 are estimated at 1.1 million tonnes and those of maize at 0.4 million tonnes. With no wheat being produced in the country, the total requirement in this grain is covered by imports, estimated at 3.4 million tonnes in 2002.