Cotabato ‘Rice Republic,’ Localized, Autonomous Food Security Strategy!

Cotabato ‘Rice Republic,’ Localized, Autonomous Food Security Strategy!
When imported rice is sold at P60 per kilo but the buying price of farmers’ palay is pegged at P16 per kilo during harvest time, it is as clear as day that moneyed and influential groups control and manipulate the rice supply and market.
Collectively, they are called the Rice Cartel and they benefit from national government policies and legislations, mainly the Rice Tariffication Law and the Executive Order reducing tariff for imported rice.
While I fully understand the meaning of “business” and “free market,” allowing the Rice Cartel to manipulate the rice market is disastrous for local rice farmers and consumers as well.
As I prepare for a possible return to government service, I designed a program which would establish a virtual “Autonomous Rice Industry” for the Province of North Cotabato, a major rice producer in the country.
The “Rice Republic” Concept is a localized version of a Rice Sufficient Philippines which I envisioned when I was Secretary of Agriculture but which I failed to achieve after the Economic Policy Makers decided to push the Rice Tariffication Law which flooded the local market with imported rice.
Here is how the “Rice Republic” Concept will work:
1. The Provincial Government, using Sec. 22 of RA 7160 (Corporate Powers of LGUs) as the legal basis, will establish a Corporate Economic Enterprise Office which will manage the Rice Production, Processing and Marketing Program of North Cotabato;
2. A digital database of all rice farmers in North Cotabato, including Upland Rice farmers, will be established to determine the total area covered by rice farming and the projected annual production vis-a-vis population consumption;
3. A province-wide Soil Analysis to cover all rice farming areas will be conducted to determine the fertilization requirements of all rice farmers followed by technology training to be provided by outstanding rice farmers;
4. Based on the accurate digital data, the Provincial Government, supported by the Department of Agriculture National Rice Program, will provide all accredited rice farmers with premium quality high-yielding seeds, fertilizer and farm inputs;
5. Modern agricultural equipment like drones to undertake simultaneous pest protection operations, harvesters and trucks to bring the harvests to community dryers which will be established by the Provincial Government in all rice production areas;
6. The Provincial Government, through an Economic Enterprise Office and with the support of the PhilMech of the Dept. of Agriculture, will establish a modern Rice Processing Complex;
7. The Provincial Economic Enterprise Office for the Rice Republic Program will buy farmers’ produce at not less than P22 per kilo which will be packed in 25-kilo bags carrying the brand “Cotabato Premium Rice” and sold in the market at P45 per kilo;
8. Market Linkages will be established with Urban LGUs for the establishment of “Cotabato Premium Rice” outlets which will offer locally produced and freshly-milled rice.
While this program will initially be operated by the Provincial Economic Enterprise Office, the long-term objective is to allow the organized rice farmers to take over and manage the Rice Republic as a Farmer-owned Agricultural Corporation.
My dream is to allow Rice Farmers to enjoy the full value of their produce and elevate them from mere raw commodities producers to agri-entrepreneurs.
This is a program I designed which will increase the productivity of farmers, ensure affordable rice for local consumers while protecting both the farmers and consumers creating Food Sovereign local areas
The Cotabato Rice Republic Concept could later be expanded to cover other commodities and become a model for a sustainable and localized Food Security Strategy for LGUs all over the country.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!