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RICE
farmers are asking the Philippine government,
particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA), to
“tell the truth” about the rice situation in the
country.
“We are
deeply disturbed over reports that the government is
planning to raise rice imports this year to a whopping
2.1 million metric tons (MMT),” said Romeo Royandoyan,
executive director of the farmers-based research and
advocacy nongovernment organization Centro Saka Inc.
(CSI).
“If we
remember correctly, it was only recently that the
Department of Agriculture was busy patting itself on the
back for a projected bumber harvest this year. Then, all
of a sudden we find them tripping over one another in
trying to justify the sharp increase in rice imports,”
said Royandoyan.
If the
entire volume is taken up, CSI noted that the
importation for this year is the “largest rice
importation in history,” surpassing imports in 1998,
when the country was severely hit by the El Niño weather
phenomenon.
“What
would be the compelling reason for revising the
estimated rice-import requirement? Up until recently,
the DA has been telling us that production will increase
this year to around 17.3 MMT, from 16.24 MMT in 2007.
Since there has not been any surge in demand, we find
the increase inexplicable,” said Royandoyan.
Based on
CSI’s estimates, the gap between supply and demand has
been hovering at about 1 MMT in the last five years,
while the rate of increase in rice requirement has shown
no significant increase.
“Thus,
if we go by the DA’s own reports, current plans to
increase imports defy logic. With increasing production,
we should be seeing a reduction in imports, not the
other way around. The DA has a lot of explaining to do,”
Royandoyan said.
For its
part, the National Rice Farmers Council (NFRC) also
voiced objections to increasing rice imports, barring
any sudden spike in demand or drop in production.
“While
we are aware of the current volatility in the
international supply of rice, we do not understand how
it would lead to an increase in the need for imports in
the absence of a reduction in domestic supply or an
increase in demand. Unless of course, some sectors are
hoping to cash in on the projected increase in rice
prices,” said NFRC chairman Jaime Tadeo.
As of
press time, DA officials could not be reached for
comment.
The DA
has been importing rice to plug the country’s production
shortfall and stockpile for the lean months which starts
in July. |
