Bantay Bigas (Rice Monitor), a multi-sectoral alliance for safe, sufficient and affordable rice, cited the failures as “absence of a genuine land reform program and continuing landlessness of rice farmers; lack of government support and subsidy for rice farmers; rising cost of rice; rice importation that affects local rice producers; and low government procurement and low-buying price of locally-produced rice.
“Last year, we welcomed Pres. Duterte’s intention to attain rice self-suffi ciency. But after a year, there has been no change in government policies regarding the local rice industry. There were only changes in statements,” said Bantay-Bigas spokesperson Zenaida Soriano in a statement.
Soriano recalled that during her group’s dialog last month, representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the objectives of the National Rice Program covered “farmers’ profitability, competitiveness, and self-sufficiency.”
“Instead of strengthening the local production and agricultural development, the government resorted to dependence on importation as a method to attain ‘food security’,” said Soriano.
She cited Duterte’s economic managers, including officials of the National Food Authority Council, that competition would make rice prices lower in the local market.
“But rice prices have only skyrocketed since the country’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Importation only benefitted big private traders who dictate the fl ow of supply and thus control prices,” Soriano said.
“Farmers don’t make enough profit, and are even in debt due to insufficient agricultural subsidy from the government. Support services are limited to loan programs, a few farming tools, and hybrid seeds which consumes a lot of fertilizers. Thus, the cost of production remains high and continues to burden our farmers,” she lamented.
“Landlessness prevails due to the monopoly control of landed families. Worse, farmers are continuously displaced from their lands due to aggressive land use and crop conversion,” said added.
The group said “rice self-sufficiency and food security can be attained only if there is a genuine development of the local rice industry.”
“Genuine agrarian reform program and a moratorium on land use conversion should be implemented and support services and agricultural subsidies should be given, including seeds and organic fertilizers and free irrigation services. The government must veer away from the neoliberal policy of liberalization of agriculture and protect the right to safe and sustainable food for the people,” Soriano stressed.
