By Manny Piñol
(Note: This was the speech I delivered today on the 50th anniversary of the breeding of IR8 or the Miracle Rice in the IRRI compound in Los Baños, Laguna.)
The period starting on the day I was named by President Rody
Duterte as the new Secretary of Agriculture to where I am today I consider as the most rigorous, challenging and educating moment of my life as a farmer.
On May 19, 2016, I started a nation-wide journey called Biyaheng Bukid to see for myself what I should do as the new secretary of agriculture.
Monumental Challenges
The “economic minds”
The biggest challenge to the advocacy to attain rice sufficiency are the so-called “economic minds” both in government and in the private sector.
These are the people who say that there is no need to focus so much and spend govt. resources on rice production because it could just be imported from other countries.
This thinking is rendered obsolete by climate change.
The “free riders in governmentt”
The second biggest challenge is how to reset the mindset of people in government, especially those who believe that employment in government is an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job.
Unlike in the days of past when rice technicians have specific areas to supervise, technicians are hardly seen the rice fields now.
the “corrupt in govt.”
The biggest misfortune this country suffers from is the presence of people in govt. who think of how they would albe to make money from govt transactions instead of how they will be able to lift up the rice farmers from poverty.
These the people who continue to buy flat-bed dryers and construct useless field level grains centres even when they know these do not work.
These were the people who bought liquid fertilisers because of the fat commissions they would receive.
Reforming farmers’ mindset
The most difficult challenge is how to change farmers’ mindset and convince them to adopt new technology.
In Samar, I saw farmers still using the age-old farming practice called “payatak”.
In many areas of the country, farmers still resist the introduction of hybrid seeds.
Hazy statistics in rice industry
Statistics available to the Dept. of Agriculture’s planners are inaccurate and unreliable.
Consider these:
At a reported planted area of 4.9 million hectares yielding an average of 3.9 metric tons per harvest, the country’s estimated rice production is 12,421,500 metric tons.
Available statistics show that the average rice consumption of 114 kilos per capita. Therefore, with a population of 105-million, the estimated consumption is 11,970,000 metric tons.
so where’s the shortage?
Interventions over 5 months
1. Color-coded national agricultural map – the Dept. of Agriculture with the AMIA taking the lead has completed the national soil and climatic survey. It will be launched on monday, Dec. 5.
2. The national food consumption quantification survey – With the help of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Bank, a study which will clearly give us accurate statistics on food supply and consumption is now being undertaken.
3. Paradigm shift in irrigation – For the first time in the history of rice farming in the country, irrigation water provided by the national irrigation administration will be given free starting 2017.
There is also a move in Congress and the Senate to amend the charter of NIA to revert it back to being a service agency instead of a govt. corporation.
The DA is also going towards small irrigation projects, including solar powered irrigation projects.
4. Corporate rice farming – The multiple tiers of traders and middlemen dampen the enthusiasm of farmers to produce more. The corporate rice farming concept which will directly link farmer-producers with corporate buyers, including DSWD’s 4Ps rice ration program, to free farmers from the manipulation of traders.
The concept will also provide farmers access to quality rice seeds and fertilisers.
5. Mechanisation and post harvest facilities – This is one area where the DA will focus its resources on in the coming years of the administration of Pres. Rody Duterte.
The $6-B loan being offered by the Chinese government during the state visit of Pres. Duterte, may be used in completing the mechanisation and establishment of post harvest facilities.
Negotiations are also being initiated with the Japanese Inernational Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a long-term equipment loan from the Japanese government.
It has been a long and tiring 5-months for me but it is a journey which I have to continue doing until the end of the term of Pres. Duterte.
In a conversation I had with Pres. Duterte on Oct. 10 in Lamitan City, Basilan, I told him that the strong foundations of a sound agriculture program, including rice production, must be implemented during his term.
I shared with him the fear that the next President may not have the same mindset as he has on agriculture.
Today, I am comfortable with the thought that this President believes that his mission as a leader is to provide “available and affordable food for the Filipino people.”
(Photos of the IRRI event and planting of IR8 taken by John Pagaduan.)
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