DA to launch Command Center in Nov to track rice supply chain

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans to launch its Command Center in November, which will track the rice supply chain by consolidating critical data from various agencies.

Initially focusing on the rice value chain, the system aims to improve resource efficiency and productivity by integrating production levels, imports, stock levels, wholesale and retail prices, consumption rates, and global market trends.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that management should be a focus alongside production, with an emphasis on precision and volume, which will provide sharper forecasting of supply and demand.

The Command Center will also adapt its model to other sectors such as high-value crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries, along with central registration of food facilities and warehouses.

By consolidating these data points, the DA aims to make more informed decisions and use limited resources more efficiently, providing predictability for rice farmers and improving their incomes.