Agriculture group calls for reinvigoration of farm sector instead of importation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should set aside its importation plans and instead focus on reinvigorating the local agriculture sector especially at a time when the global market has become unreliable and expensive.

Agriculture group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) called on the government to plan, fund and plant as a response to the warning issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization of a possible food crisis as countries impose national measures amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think we are the only country that believes in the unli-import mindset. Self-sufficiency is the only way that we can ensure domestic food supply. The global market is ultimately protectionist, unreliable and way too expensive,” Sinag chair Rosendo So said.

“Instead of importing, why not fund our farms and post-harvest facilities, help the rice millers, provide free farm inputs, increase the support price for palay and give all necessary interventions for our farmers,” he said.

The FAO earlier said that lockdowns and restrictions on movement could disrupt food production, processing, distribution and sales, both nationally and globally, with the potential to have an “immediate and severe” impact on those restricted by mobility.

It said that global food markets are well supplied, but there is growing concern that measures should be taken to ensure that both national food markets and the world market continue to be a transparent, stable and reliable source of food supply.

“The FAO has been calling on countries not to restrict the flow of food around the world, but the reality is that countries are closing borders and free trade deals are being bypassed through protectionist policies that will ensure food security for their people and their respective local markets,” So said.

Referring to the 2007 global financial crisis, the FAO said uncertainty at that time triggered a wave of export restrictions by some countries, while others started importing food aggressively, which contributed to excessive price volatility, which was damaging for low-income food-deficit countries.

For one, Vietnam has already temporarily stopped exporting its rice while Thailand is also having difficulties in its production. Cambodia has also cut down on its exports.

Vietnam is the Philippines’ biggest source of rice imports followed by Thailand.

For other commodities, Kazakhstan has banned exports of wheat flour and imposed restrictions on buckwheat, onions, carrots and potatoes. Russia is also threatening to restrict wheat imports.

The Philippines is heavily dependent on wheat importation for its flour and feeds as no production is possible in the country due to the weather.

“We are already seeing how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting global food supply. Nations are all protecting their markets and we must do the same, if not more,” So said.

“Now is the most opportune moment, with a promised supplemental budget, for the government to help reinvigorate the rice industry and support the whole agriculture sector, from livestock to poultry farms, from backyard growers to small fishers,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture recently secured a P31 billion supplemental budget to roll out its interventions to ensure available food and stable prices amid the enhanced community quarantine.

“As early as now, we can no longer rely on the global market. What more if this COVID pandemic continues and worsens? It is time to reclaim our capacity to produce our own food requirements,” said So.