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Self-sufficiency in agriculture 'falling' due to importation — farmers' group
Self-sufficiency in agriculture 'falling' due to importation — farmers' group
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Thursday, Sept. 28 said the "lengthened" execution of importation and trade liberalization policies have caused the country's self-sufficiency in crops, livestock, and fisheries "to fall down."
KMP, together with Bantay Bigas Network, and the convenors of Bantay Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program led the People's Summit for Food Security and Self-Sufficiency at the University of the Philippines to evaluate neoliberal policies affecting farmers, producers, and consumers.
Despite being an agricultural country, the Philippines still heavily relies on imports for crops, the participants said
"The country is poised to become the world's top importer of rice, according to USDA estimates," KMP lamented.
"The Cordillera region produces the best Arabica coffee but the Philippines imports coffee primarily from: Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Switzerland. We also rely heavily on imports for our garlic consumption," it added.
KMP chair emeritus Rafael Mariano said the country had 100 percent self-sufficiency in several crops before joining the WTO in 1995.
The group also highlighted that despite Ilocos Region's native garlic production, the Philippines imported 93.39 thousand metric tons of garlic worth P1.9 billion.
According to Mariano, liberalization has "undermined" the capabilities and potentials in local food production.
"Dati ay kayang-kaya nating likhain at anihin ang ating kinokonsumong pagkain at mga pananim (Before, we are so capable of producing and reaping the food that we consumed and our crops)," Mariano said.
"Dahil sa importasyon, bumagsak ang sariling kasapatan natin sa bigas, isda, karne, kape, bawang at iba pang pagkain (Because of importation, our self-sufficiency in rice grains, fish, meat, coffee, garlic and other food products fell down)," he added.
KMP also said the "scant" budget allocation for agriculture and land reform program like the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program crippled the local food production capacity of Filipinos. (Lizst Torres Abello)