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Why the rice shortfall?
WHILE I agree that land conversion is not the sole reason for the
rice shortfall in the Philippines as claimed by Senate President
Manuel Villar, it cannot be denied that conversion is a major
reason.
A study made by PhilRice said that 34,000 tons
of rice were lost because of the average 9,000 hectares/year of
land converted between 2003-2007. (Source: “There’s No Rice
Shortage”, PhilRice website). Many lands converted were irrigated
lands. Corrupt officials of the NIA, DAR and Agriculture have
colluded to pave the way for the conversion.
Another reason is crop conversion, especially in
Mindanao. Lands devoted to food grains, like rice and corn, were
replaced with bananas, pineapple and coffee, now to biofuel crops
like jathropa. Land planted with pineapple grew from 311,819
hectares in 1990 to 428,804 hectares in 2006. From 40,795 hectares
in 1990, pineapple covers 49,813 has. by 2006. Corn lands have
decreased to 2.6 million has. from 3.005 million has. in 1994. (FAO-Philippines
website)
Land-use and crop-use conversion, the small
amount given by the government to agriculture R&D and infrastructure,
low prices for palay, the state reliance on imported rice, the
acidity of the soil due to dependence on oil-based
fertilizers—these have contributed to making the country
food-insecure. The right of millions of Filipinos to affordable
and adequate basic food like rice, bread and corn is threatened. The
government must design and implement agricultural and food policies
that ensure food security for all, especially the vulnerable
sectors.
Raffy Rey Hipolito
Advocacy Officer, Foodfirst Information & Action Network
Philippines
fianphils_2005@yahoo.com
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