MANILA (Kyodo) Japan may import chicken from the Philippines in the face of the bird flu outbreak sweeping other parts of Asia, Philippine agriculture officials said Thursday.
The Agriculture Department linked the interested Japanese parties with broilers' associations in Manila, and both sides met with Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, the department said.
The Philippines is projecting 10 percent to 14 percent growth in chicken production for this year, which may be enough to cover the additional demand, said Elmer Esplana of the department's Marketing Development Division.
"More or less, we will not have any shortage here because if we have double-digit growth, assuming that there will be normal conditions, we can share some of our chicken produce (with) Japan," Esplana said.
The Philippines produced 636,000 tons of chicken meat in 2003, compared with 627,000 tons the year before.
Last year's chicken output was augmented by 16,000 tons imported from the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Europe.
The Philippines is hoping for a windfall by exporting its chicken, as importers scout for alternatives in the face of avian flu outbreaks in 10 Asian countries that have killed at least 15 humans and millions of birds.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Thursday her government is earmarking 250 million pesos (about $4.46 million) for a standby fund in case of a bird flu outbreak.