PHL rice self-sufficiency not far-fetched — govt officials

Nineteen years after the Philippine started importing rice in 1993, the country is eyeing self-sufficiency – probably within the next two years.   Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told the House appropriations committee during last week’s budget hearing, “We are eyeing 100 percent sufficiency next year.”   In a report published last year, economist Dr. Romulo Virola noted, “In the 70s and the 80s and as late as 1992, we were self-sufficient in rice. But so much hectarage that used to be planted to rice had given way to subdivisions, commercial and industrial establishments, and golf courses…   “Some say, the agrarian reform has not been all that good either.   “It is therefore not surprising that from 1993 to 2011, we depended on rice importation to secure our food needs,” the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) secretary general added.   He resigned from NSCB only last July.   Strategies toward self-sufficiency   “Totoong may epekto ang land conversion [sa rice production], pero hindi iyan pwedeng pigilin ng DA (Department of Agriculture), Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante Delima said in a phone interview with GMA News Online Monday.   “Dapat ang LGU (local government unit) ang mag-police ng mga production areas,” the assistant secretary noted.   As such, government is using other strategies to address the problem with rice supply. Because of these programs, the Agriculture Department is positive the Philippines will be rice self-sufficient by the end of 2013, Delima said.   “Isa sa mga programa ng ating administrasyon ang land-use protection for strategical production areas,” he said. This program should address the problem posed by rapid land conversion.   The “third cropping system” is another program in place, according to him.   Farmers usually have two cropping seasons in a year. The third cropping system means that in two years, there will be five cropping seasons, with the system acting as a back-up resource in a calamity-prone country like the Philippines.   About 19 to 20 tropical storms visit the country yearly, according to PAGASA.   While the central and northern parts of Luzon were devastated by typhoons in July and August, the damage to agriculture was relatively minimal, according to the assistant secretary.   “The number of totally-damaged rice fields amounted to only 45,000 hectares, Delima noted. “About 60-70,000 hectares were partially damaged. This is lower than the damage the Tropical Storm Quiel and Typhoon Pedring brought in 2011. Nasa 'vegetative stage' pa kasi tayo ngayon,” he added.   The vegetative stage refers to the phase when seedlings are just about to grow leaves.   “Recovery is easier during this stage kaysa doon sa halos mag-aani na lang,” said Delima.   Lack of irrigation   However, while government is tackling the issue of proper land use, Delima said it should also do something about the lack of irrigation facilities for most many farmlands nationwide.   “Mayroon tayong 300 million hectares of potential [irrigable] areas. Kalahati lang nito ang na-i-irrigate. Kailangang mag-invest ang pamahalaan ng enough para sa irigasyon… kahit iyon lang, enough na iyon,” said Delima.   But the cost of irrigation poses another problem and additional strain on the Agriculture Department’s budget. Only about 80 percent of the installed irrigation facilities are functioning.   “Karamihan sa mga irigasyon ay itinayo noong 60’s at 70’s. Nagde-deteriorate na ang iba diyan… Pero ang halaga ng irigasyon ay halos P350,000 per hectare,” said Delima.   Eye on rice self-sufficiency   Still, Virola is positive that the country can attain rice self-sufficiency on rice by 2013.   “Despite the bad news coming from the statistics, there is really no reason why not! After all, we have been there before! But we have to work hard and we have to have the will to walk our talk,” he said.   In a January 2012 study by economist Beulah de la Peña for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), she noted, “Years of preoccupation with rice self-sufficiency and rice supply and price stabilization have not made a dent on the problem.”    Virola, on the other hand, cited in his report that Filipinos – as of 2006 – spend 32 percent of their food budget on rice.   “The DA will not back down on its rice self-sufficiency program and it has wide support for the same,” De la Peña also said.   “Not only does the public believe that growing the country’s food requirements is cost-effective because it provides incomes to farmers and saves foreign exchange…” she noted.   “[T]he government also believes, with basis, that the international rice market can not be trusted to supply the rice when it is needed,” De la Peña said.   “This was the thinking behind the successive huge-volume tenders in 2008,” she added, referring to the Philippine rice situation at onset of the global recession when the Philippines placed orders in the international market and pushed higher the commodity’s prices.   The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization listed the Philippines as the world’s eighth top producer of rice in 2008. That same year, the country was also the top importer of rice.   De la Peña hinted openly what it takes to reach rice self-sufficiency: “The Philippine government will need to muster the political will, with little support against strong public sentiment, to push reforms.” — VS, GMA News