The incoming president describes the problems as “severe” and the current secretary of agriculture agrees with the assessment of the situation of the sector. Because of the seriousness of the situation, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decided to temporarily take the helm of the Department of Agriculture when he assumes the presidency.
Agriculture officials have warned of a looming global food crisis in the second half of the year as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. In the Philippines, food producers must also contend with the continuing spread of African swine fever and the re-emergence of avian flu in some poultry farms. Thailand and Vietnam, the top sources of the Philippines’ rice imports to stabilize domestic supply and prices, are suspending their exportation in anticipation of the food crisis.
Increasing domestic rice production to compensate for the suspension of imports is not easily done, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to a tightening of the supply of chemical fertilizers. The Philippines is fully dependent on imports for its chemical fertilizer needs, with farmers saying organic fertilizers cannot match the high-yield performance of the chemical varieties.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar has said it will take P170 billion until 2027 to increase buffer stocks and sell rice at P20 per kilo, which the Marcos campaign had touted to voters. Dar has said the lowest price possible for the most affordable rice variety in the near term is only P27.50 per kilo.
Farmers need to make a decent living and are complaining that the promised aid to them under rice tariffication has not materialized or is insufficient. Adding to their woes is agricultural smuggling, which a Senate inquiry has found to be a continuing problem. Domestic producers are also complaining of what they consider to be excessive government-approved importation of a wide range of products, from fish to vegetables and rice.
Marcos has said he wants to rebuild the value chain and reorganize the Department of Agriculture for efficiency, as well as revive programs to increase rice production. With the incoming president himself taking the lead in confronting the severe problems, expectations are high that the food crisis can be averted.