Mindanao is generally regarded as the food basket of the Philippines, where many cash and high-value crops are grown. That’s because of its innate geographic advantages. For one, the region is not in the path of typhoons, unlike Luzon. Hilly areas in Mindanao are ideal for growing temperate vegetables, and contiguous farmlands in the region are suitable for palm-oil plantations. As a testament to the potential of Mindanao to boost the country’s food production, the region hosts the plantations of multinational enterprises such as Dole.
Farmers in Mindanao have shown through the years that they are capable of producing enough food for the region. Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen are regarded as major producers of rice and corn. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the country’s poorest region, is also one of the top corn-producing areas. Bananas and pineapples are extensively grown in the region, allowing farmers to enjoy higher income from exports.
Skirmishes between government security forces and terrorists in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, however, have once again highlighted a major risk to betting on the region’s agribusiness sector. Farming communities in Marawi City and nearby areas were affected by the conflict, and experts have warned that food production in these areas would inevitably decline. The conflict had also forced thousands of Marawi residents to leave their city and flee to Iligan, which now bears the burden of feeding thousands of fleeing families.
Apart from the fights that break out between government security forces and extremists, banana plantations also have to contend with the extortion activities being carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA). In recent months, leaders in the banana sector have complained about NPA members who have attacked their plantations and burned expensive farm equipment following their refusal to give in to the demands of the communists.
While the government is hammering out a peace agreement with the communists and setting up the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to improve the peace-and-order situation in Mindanao, it should consider identifying food-production zones in the region. These zones should be insulated from security threats by having soldiers or policemen patrol the areas 24/7. Banana plantations that are under constant threat from NPAs should be covered in these zones to discourage extortion activities.
Minimizing disruptions in Mindanao’s food-production areas would not only ensure that residents would be fed, but would also allow farmers to increase the country’s food stockpile. Experts have long ago harped about the need to expand crops production in southern Philippines given its ideal climatic condition. But the peace-and-order situation in the region has been one of its drawbacks.
The Duterte administration must come up with innovative approaches to secure food production in the region and protect farmers and exporters. Agriculture is one of the region’s strengths and it must be exploited to the fullest to cut poverty, which helps fuel insurgency in Mindanao. That’s the only way to make the land of promise a land of peace and prosperity.