Rice Self-Sufficiency: Are we up to the challenge?

"For 90 million Filipinos, self-sufficiency in rice is not a choice, but an imperative."

Thus did Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap describe in a nutshell the logic behind the Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan for 2009-2010.

With the global rice crisis boosting rice prices worldwide, the Arroyo Administration has deemed it time to resort to measures more sensible than the quick solution of rice importation to feed the country's growing population.

The Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan is a P30 billion, two-year government investment that aims for a 100% self-sufficient rice economy by 2010 through improved rice productivity and increased income for farmers.

 For the past six years, the country has achieved only an average annual rice production growth rate of 3.68%, which is projected to reach only 94% self-sufficiency by 2010 as computed against rice requirements and a population growth rate of 2.3%.

 The proposed budget will cover costs for irrigation, production support services, extension and farmer education, research and development, marketing, regulatory services, planning, policy, program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and postharvest and infrastructure.

 According to the rice plan, key to rice self-sufficiency are location-specific interventions that can help farmers achieve higher yield through planning and implementation led by local government units (LGUs). About 49 provinces will be covered by the plan. Interventions include improvement and rehabilitation of irrigation systems, use of high-quality hybrid and inbred seeds, integrated crop management, provision of soft loans, and delivery of extension support services.

 Many are sceptical over the components and achievability of the rice plan. Agriwatch chairman Ernesto Ordonez in his commentary in a major newspaper said, "we are good at analyzing, conceptualizing and verbalizing, but not so much at following through on plans."

 He pointed out several shortcomings in the draft rice plan, one of which was the exclusion of organic rice, and the inclusion of hybrid rice which is a heavy user of chemical fertilizers. Also, the annual irrigation budget of P6 billion in the plan has been that amount for the last seven years. He said the irrigation budget should be significantly increased, with focus on rehabilitating deteriorating irrigation systems to achieve the desired outcome.

 Ordonez also noted Pakisama's Crispin Aguello's description of the rice plan as being "PO (people's organization) and NGO (nongovernment organization)-blind", adding that the rice plan should include a program for harnessing the POs and NGOs capabilities and successes in training and extension services.

 Proposed credit and marketing services were also not spared from the grilling, as Philippine Development Assistance Program's Jerry Pacturan suggested that the rice plan should consider using micro-lending institutions with good track records to provide small farmers easier access to credit.

 The Coalition for Rural Women's Trinidad Domingo added that the plan should employ a 'quedan' type of arrangement, where the farmers can get 80% of the value of their produce immediately and sell at a later time when prices are higher. This way the farmers, and not the traders, will benefit form the higher prices.

 While these recommendations were accepted and approved by the Department of Agriculture, some civil society groups maintain their vigilance.

 Xavier University's College of Agriculture Dean Roel Ravanera is optimistic and open to suggestions, stating "we can only trust that these interventions guided by truth and a genuine concern for the poor will add up to a big victory in achieving rice self-sufficiency in the years to come."

 We can only hope that the National Government and the rice farmers as well are up to the challenge of achieving or surpassing the vision of the Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan in a matter of two years.