Government intervention needed for 97.5 percent rice sufficiency’
Credit to Author: Bella Cariaso| Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — A farmers’ group yesterday urged the government to implement the interventions needed to achieve 97.5-percent rice sufficiency in five years, as envisioned by President Marcos through the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program.
Danilo Fausto, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president, told The STAR that the use of fertilizers, for one, is crucial in achieving this target.
“We’ve been talking over and over that it (rice sufficiency) is achievable if we have the right programs like fertilization, use of hybrid rice, irrigation. We need all of these,” Fausto said.
On the issue of fertilizers alone, he noted that many farmers were forced to limit the use of urea amid the high prices in 2022. “Our local palay production dropped last year as there was a problem on the use of fertilizers because of a spike in the prices. As a result of the high cost of fertilizers, farmers decreased the use of fertilizers.”
Fausto also said that if biofertilizers would be used, these should be sourced locally.
“There has to be a proof of concept. It’s an academic theory but it is necessary. Of course, the biofertilizers should not be imported because the very purpose of biofertilizers is not only to enrich the soil fertility but also to remove us from dependence on imported fertilizers. Once you import biofertilizers, it will defeat the purpose,” Fausto pointed out.
He also said the Department of Agriculture should totally eliminate the use of inorganic fertilizers since this “has its own use and the farmers are used to (this).”
Marcos approved on Wednesday the Masagana rice program, which seeks to achieve the highest possible rice sufficiency level by implementing various strategies. The program is designed to support rice farmers, increase rice production and strengthen the rice value chain.
It will be carried out through several strategies like climate change adaptation, farm clustering and consolidation, value chain approach and digital transformation. Its name is similar to that of Masagana 99 – a 1973 program that sought to address rice shortage and boost production.
According to experts, Masagana 99 was able to address the rice shortage but was dogged by credit program issues. The program was discontinued in 1984.