(MB FILE PHOTO)

A farmers’ group on Sunday, March 29, warned of a looming food crisis as rising fuel prices push Filipino farmers and fisherfolk deeper into debt and drive up production costs.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to trigger oil price shocks, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the country’s already fragile agricultural sector is being battered, stressing the need for immediate government intervention.

KMP said higher fuel costs are increasing expenses for irrigation, transport, fertilizer, and pesticide use, affecting the entire agricultural production chain.

“Ang natitira na lang sa mga magsasaka ay utang. Habang tumataas ang presyo ng langis, sumasabay ang pagtaas ng gastos sa produksyon. Hinahayaan din ng gobyerno na walang kontrol sa presyo ng farm inputs. Presyo lang ng ani ang palaging mababa (What remains for farmers is debt. As oil prices rise, production costs also increase. The government is allowing farm input prices to go uncontrolled. Only the price of produce remains low),” the group said in a statement.

KMP noted that fertilizer prices have surged, with urea now at P2,200 to P2,400 per 50-kilogram bag and complete fertilizer at around P2,100, up from P1,600 to P1,750.

The group said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority have the authority under the Price Act of 1992 to impose price controls but have yet to do so.

KMP said it received reports that some farmers in Bulacan have reduced irrigation from three cycles to just one due to high diesel prices.

KMP warned that without concrete measures to control oil and farm input prices, the country could be headed toward a deeper food crisis.

“Kung hindi pakikinggan ng gobyerno ang panawagan na alisin na ang excise tax at VAT sa langis at kontrolin ang mga presyo, hindi lang kabuhayan ng magsasaka ang babagsak, pati suplay ng pagkain ng buong bansa ang malalagay sa alanganin (If the government does not heed calls to remove excise tax and VAT on oil and control prices, not only farmers’ livelihoods will collapse, but the country’s food supply will also be put at risk),” Ronnie Manalo, the secretary general of KMP, said.

“Habang kumikita ang malalaking kumpanya ng langis, mamamayan ang pumapasan ng bigat ng krisis na pinatindi pa ng gera ng US (While large oil companies profit, the people bear the burden of the crisis worsened by the US war),” he added.

As of posting time, the DA has yet to comment on the group’s claims.