Philippine Rice Industry in Peril Says Agriculturist

By Ina Alleco R. Silverio Bulatlat.com

A rice farmer in Davao del Sur. Agriculturist Finesa Cosico cites a host of reasons for the drop in output. (Photo by Karlos Manlupig / Bulatlat.com)

The rice industry is in peril as production of the staple food in the Philippines has been declining in the last two years, an agriculturalist said in a recently released report.

Finesa Cosico, an agriculturist and member of Agham (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People), cited figures from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showing that corn and rice production contracted last year.

Based on data from the bureau, from producing as much as 16.8 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2008, the country only had a production of around 15.8 million metric tons production in 2010.

The same decrease in production happened to corn crop output in 2010. Total corn production went down by 9.34 percent from 7.0 million metric tons in 2009, to only 6.3 million metric tons last year.

Cosico said that there was a host of reasons that are cited for the drop in crop output.

“There are the effects of climate change and the vulnerability of our agricultural sector to both drought and rainfall. Then there’s the unabated land conversion for residential, commercial and industrial land and the replacement of staple food crops with high-value crops. These crops are grown mostly for export markets,” she said.

Cosico also pointed out that besides the inherent problems in the agriculture sector, there are the “problematic policies” of the government with regard to agrarian reform and food security. The Philippines continues to depending on imported rice to fill in the production gap, and in the last few years, the country has been one of the top rice importers in the region.

Food Shortage

In recent reports, Malacañang announced that said President Benigno Aquino will address issues concerning the country’s food supply next week.

On March 8, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Pres. Aquino will meet with his officials and discuss the matter after Aquino returns from state visits in Indonesia and Singapore. He said that Aquino will be meeting with agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala, NFA administrator Lito Banayo and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad after his arrival to discuss the food situation and the rice supply.

The Palace made the announcement in reaction to a statement made by senator Edgardo Angara that a food crisis could erupt as an effect of the the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa.

Lacierda said that for the moment, there is no crisis.

“The idea of whether there is a food crisis will have to be discussed because as I understand right now, there is no—and that is very clear—there is no food crisis right now,” Lacierda said.

The Palace official said Aquino has already received a briefing from the NFA on the country’s rice supply. According to him, the NFA has already set its rice importation quotas.

When asked by the media if the quotas could change due to rapidly changing international developments, Lacierda said, “The NFA has a standby authority to import in case the situation is aggravated.”

Protect the Rice Industry

The government’s assertions that everything in the rice industry is under control is not enough to satisfy farmers groups. An alliance of agriculture and peasant groups has issued its own recommendations on ow the industry can be genuinely protected.

Earlier in February, representatives of farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, rice millers, irrigators’ associations, suppliers and consumers held a conference on the problems in rice production in the country. Led by Bantay Bigas, the activity dubbed the National People’s Rice Congress, was held at the National Irrigation Administration’s Convention Hall. The goal of the Rice Congress was to strengthen the Philippine rice industry to ensure that the country becomes 100-percent rice self-sufficient in the next few years.

The groups presented the highlights of the event to agriculture secretary Alcala after the activity, and the official reportedly gave a commitment that the NFA Council will study Bantay Bigas’ recommendations.

Bantay Bigas has been conducting series of dialogues with the NFA on the determination of reasonable rice prices since 2009.

Cosico said that some of the policy actions that are recommended by the Rice Congress are to have an adequate budget for agricultural production and to give subsidies in particular to the grains industry.

“These should include production subsidies, seeds and organic fertilizers subsidies and improved services and facilities in the production chain. On top of these, the NFA should have the capacity to procure at least a quarter of the total rice production of Filipino farmers,” she said.

The agriculturalist said that modern tools and machinery for planting, harvesting, and processing of rice should be made available to improve and increase total rice production in the country.

“This should be coupled with the immediate development and improvement of agricultural infrastructure, especially for irrigation for rice production,” she said.

Cosico also shared that Bantay Bigas also carries a stand that irrigation fees should be reasonable, affordable or subsidized by the national government. The alliance also recommended that water for irrigation should be prioritized especially in times of drought.

In the meantime, the gathering of protection for the rice industry advocates have recognition to the role of women farm workers in the rice production.

According to Cosico, there is a consensus among the group’s allied members that there is a need for mechanisms that will support and enhance women’s significant role in the rice industry both as producers and consumers.

“Stress was given to the necessity of utilizing locally adapted rice varieties should in rice production and these should be protected from biopiracy and private appropriation. Farmer’s rights over the seeds should be recognized. Local seed exchange and seed banks should be encouraged and supported,” she said.

Public sector unions that joined the Rice Congress said that these privatization policies are in the form of the so-called “decoupling,” “rationalization,” “re-engineering” and restructuring of the NFA and other related agencies. Cosico reported that the stand of the delegates against land conversion was patently clear, and that they were also firmly opposed to the encroachment of mining and other industrial projects in agricultural lands should cease.

“While these suggestions may be easily done, a longer perspective to solving the rice crisis should also be taken into account. There is the long-running problem of landlessness in the country. This should be one of the top priorities of the government if it really wants to spur our agricultural output. The bills filed in the Philippine House of Representatives, House Bill 374, also known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Act of 2010 and House Bill 3105 or the Rice Industry Development Act are steps in the right direction,” she concluded.

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Philippine Rice Imports & High Prices

Philippines May Import More Rice Than Planned as Global Food Costs Advance

The Philippines may import more rice than planned as it seeks to secure supplies amid record global costs, according to the nation’s grain-buying agency.

“Many countries are in a stockpiling mode,” National Food Authority Administrator Angelito Banayo said in an interview in Manila yesterday. Rising prices are “a cause for worry,” he said, declining to specify how much the country will buy.

Countries across Africa to Asia are increasing imports to rebuild state reserves to cope with the impact of food prices that reached a record last month. This year’s surge has driven millions into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank, and fueled unrest in the Middle East and Africa. Rice costs have risen 6.8 percent in Chicago in the past year, lagging behind the 58 percent jump in wheat and 92 percent surge in corn.

The Philippines is seeking to more than halve imports to 860,000 tons of rice this year, from about 2.5 million tons in 2010, amid forecasts for a bigger harvest, Banayo said March 7. National Food will buy 200,000 tons and the remaining 660,000 tons will be purchased by private traders. Officials will meet with President Benigno Aquino this week to “validate” the plan “in light of rising commodity prices globally,” Banayo said.

The country may start tendering for rice as early as this month and may accept delivery of imported rice by the end of May, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said on March 9.

‘Politically Sensitive’

“The high cost of food is a politically sensitive issue in our country,” Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara said in a March 9 statement. About 80 percent of the nation’s population allots 60 percent of their expenditure on food, with half of that budget spent on rice, he said.

Some nations may shift to rice, pressuring supplies and prices, if wheat costs continue to climb, Banayo said.

“We have to start buying before the rainy season” he said. “Harvests in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have begun. We shouldn’t wait for the lean months.”

Rice prices reached a record in January in Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most-populous nation, prompting the government to suspend import tax on the grain, the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization said last week. Prices stayed at record highs last month in Bangladesh, the largest buyer in South Asia, because of low inventories, according to the report.

Price Gains

Futures for May delivery were little changed at $13.535 per 100 pounds on the Chicago Board of Trade at 11:07 a.m. in Singapore. Prices climbed 21 percent in the second half of 2009 as the Philippines boosted imports to a record.

National Food will allow private traders to bid as early as this month for a so-called service charge that will entitle them to import rice without a 40 percent tax, Banayo said. The agency may hold a tender or enter into government-to-government deals for its purchases, he said.

The government is seeking to recast National Food as rising rice purchases sold at lower prices sunk the state-owned company into debt. It may absorb the agency’s debts, which stood at 161 billion pesos on Dec. 31, and infuse fresh capital, Banayo said.

The plan must be approved by Congress, he said.

By Bloomberg


Philippine Dependence On Imported Rice Can Be Decreased and Eliminated

As in the past, the same opportunity is still available now. The opportunity for the Philippines to be self sustainable and a exporter of rice again as it was long ago. Ask your Philippine government officials on a regular basis to support Philippine farmers in all ways so they can be successful in their farming efforts. A strong and successful Philippine agriculture industry means there will be strong local rice supplies, and a strong and successful Philippine economy for all.

Nutriplant Nutriplus Organics Protocol Input Costs Per Hectare for All Types of Crops

Includes organic nutrients for seed sowing.

P2,500 1 Spray Application - For Rice Always Apply at Panicle Initiation

P3,800 2 Spray Application - Typical for rice, corn, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

P5,200 3 Spray Application - Full Nutriplant Nutriplus application protocol with no other application required of any other nutrient fertilizer products.

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Good for the farmer, the environment, and the consumer.




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Click the links below to naturally and organically increase harvest productions with lower input costs.

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