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Food security
A YEAR AGO, this was what President Duterte said in his first State of the Nation Address regarding his plans for agriculture and food security:
“Road development projects shall complement with our thrust to provide modern agriculture infrastructure by expanding and improving the construction and rehabilitation of roads and irrigation, and establishing modern harvest and post-harvest facilities to minimize losses.
“We shall also conduct a nationwide soil analysis to determine areas most suitable for rice farming to optimize production with the use of effective soil rehabilitation and fertilization.
“We shall strictly enforce fisheries laws, particularly on illegal fishing and promote aquaculture along river banks and in backyards.”
This was the President’s blueprint for agriculture and food security. He has five more years of opportunity for agricultural reforms. It would serve the government well to have a food security plan done competently in consultation with experts and stakeholders, attuned with global trends and realities but with very clear domestic targets and a realistic to-do list.
Otherwise, we will continue to muddle our way through a global regime of soaring food prices.
A food security plan must be done soup-to-nuts style, meaning from seed distribution to market access and with social programs to help farmers in between cycles. It must identify the number of driers that the Department of Agriculture will purchase for our farmers per municipality to prevent spoilage and wastage. It must also include a nationwide irrigation plan and funds for research and development attuned to specific rice productivity targets for the coming years. It should include a detailed plan for other non-agricultural food sectors as well.
We must also consider the fiscal sustainability factor as we are confronted with a humongous rice import bill for the coming months alone. The executive and legislative branches of our government should reach a consensus on interim and long-term solutions to food production and its impact on our country’s fiscal and economic situation.
As to public accountability, let’s start with the government’s rice importation program. How much in totality are our rice imports? When were they negotiated, for how much per metric ton, and when will these rice imports actually arrive? The release of such information is the best assurance to our people that there will indeed be adequate supply of rice in the country for the coming months.
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