Manila  - The Philippines on Thursday ordered a moratorium in the conversion of farmland to other uses as the government stepped up efforts to boost rice production amid a looming supply shortage.

"The moratorium on land conversion shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until further notice," Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said in a memo.

Pangandaman said the directive aims "to address the unabated conversion of prime agricultural lands for real estate development."

Agriculture experts have noted that the area of land being planted with rice and other food products in the Philippines has declined due to urbanization and industrialization.

A total of 2.3 million hectares of land are currently planted with rice in the Philippines, compared to 9.9 million hectares in Thailand and 7.5 million hectares in Vietnam.

The moratorium on land conversion could help boost production of the country's staple food.

The agriculture department said the Philippines currently has a rice supply of 1.943 million tons, equal to 59 days worth of consumption.

But the government still needs to import 2.7 million tons this year to ensure enough supply, making the Philippines the world's largest rice importer.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has allocated more than 1 billion dollars for a programme aimed at boosting rice and other food production amid fears of a crisis.

Arroyo has also declared war against rice hoarders and tapped the church and the military to distribute cheap rice to the poor to avoid food riots that have gripped other countries. (dpa)