EDITORIAL March 23 - 29

Rice Is Diminishing in Filipino Households

The Philippines is short of not only rice but corn too. Cebu City and province are gripping because of the real shortage of rice and corn. The Cebuanos eat more of corn than rice. Corn is their staple food. The national president of the Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines, Teresa Alegado fears the country “is running short of rice supply” even if she considers rice shortage abnormal at this time of the year. She maybe correct, for the month of March is the month when rice harvesting is in full blast. Moreover, March is also the season for harvesting corn which were planted in the December – January corn planting season. In addition, almost all rice varieties farmers plant are more seasonal therefore they plant anytime of the year provided water is available in the ricefields. Farmers also harvest palay anytime of the year. But why Shortage? There are several reasons why the Philippines incurs cereal shortfall. First, the rapid increase in population is unabated while the increase in cereal production like rice is very static. It is slower than the population growth; Second, the annual per capita intake of rice has increased from 96 kilograms five years ago to 122 kilograms today; Third, the area devoted to rice production has decreased and still decreasing due to land conversion from agricultural to residential, commercial and industrial; Fourth, the policy on rice and corn is more advantageous to the consumers and most disadvantageous to the producers thereby discouraging production; Fifth, while cost of production has increased brought about by the increase of fertilizer, farm machines and fuel, labor, land rental, and taxes, the National Food Authority has pegged the buying price of palay at P10 – P11 per kilogram; and Sixth, rice being hydrophonic plant consumes much water. But out of the 1.8 million hectares devoted to palay production, only 50 percent of the area is irrigated. International Rice Research Institute studies show that 5000 kilograms of water is needed to produce one (1) kilogram of palay. Recommendations 1. Repair and construct irrigation systems to irrigate 100 percent of the area devoted to rice production. Water promotes the utilization of plant nutrients, prevents the growth of weeds, prevents pests and diseases attacks, and enhances the favorable growth of rice crop; 2. Review the present rice policy with the view to provide more incentives and motivation to palay farmers such as fair prices of both production inputs and palay products; and 3. Provide adequate post harvest facilities like grain dryers to minimize post harvest losses and improve the product quality. /MP