Time For Major Shift! Let Local Govts. Handle Rice Sufficiency Program

After almost a century of failed efforts to achieve Rice Self-Sufficiency, even after spending Trillions in government funds, the time has come for the Department of Agriculture to turn over the National Rice Program to local government units.
The National Rice Program, a centralized approach at achieving Rice Sufficiency through projects designed by people who do not even understand Rice Farming, had been a dismal failure marked by serious issues of corruption through the years highlighted by the Fertilizer Scams.
Mga binhing hindi tumutubo, Abonong kung dumating panahon na ng anihan at overpriced pa, Equipment na hindi angkop sa kailangan ng magsasaka and the lack of support for small irrigation and post-harvest facilities are some of the serious problems which had stunted the growth of the Rice Industry through the years.
One scandalous example of the corruption in equipment procurement now is the P3-B worth of Electric-Powered Composting Equipment costing over P1-M per unit charged to the National Rice Program.
The equipment has no use for farmers but since the project is backed by a powerful legislator, the DA is forced to fund it.
To stop the wastage of government funds, stem corruption and produce enough food for the country, the Localized Rice Sufficiency Program must be adopted by ocal government units.
Each LGU must have a Master Plan on how to produce rice for their population and all validated programs, especially irrigation systems, will be funded by the national government.
There is already a model in the making, the town of Taraka, Lanao del Sur which was assisted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) when I was Chairman.
The Taraka LGU formed its Economic Enterprise Office, established Solar-Powered Irrigation System with loans obtained from the Development Bank of the Philippines and recently, PhilMech granted it with a modern Rice Processing Facility.
By computing the rice requirements of the town based on its population, Taraka will assist its farmers in producing rice which the Economic Enterprise Office will buy-back, process and sell locally.
Alam ng LGU kung anong binhi ang angkop, saan maglalagay ng irigasyon at kung anong abono ang kailangan, in contrast to the current national program that downloads low germination seeds, inappropriate fertilizer and equipment not needed by farmers.
Any production in excess of what the town needs will be sold to nearby towns which could not achieve Rice Sufficiency or to the Food Terminal Inc. which could reposition the rice stocks in cities and urban areas.
Dole-Outs and Subsidies will be replaced with easy access low interest credit thus saving billions in government funds yearly.
Replicated in all agricultural towns all over the country, the dreamed Rice Self-Sufficiency could be achieved and wastage of government funds would finally end.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!