Filipino scientists, activists want IRRI out
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:54:00 07/24/2008
Filed Under: Agriculture, Science & Technology, Protest
MANILA, Philippines—Several groups of Filipino scientists and farmers Thursday slammed the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), as it is doing "nothing good for Filipino farmers and Philippine agriculture."
"There is no need for the IRRI to exist in the Philippines," said the groups Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan (Agham, Advocates of Science and Technology for the People) and Resist Agrochem TNCs (Resistance and Solidarity Against Agrochemical TNCs).
IRRI is the oldest and largest international agricultural research institute in Asia, established to develop improved rice varieties and farming techniques.
"[IRRI] continues to be the No. 1 perpetrator of anti-farmer rice research in Asia. Science and technology should be reoriented to cater to the genuine needs of the farmers and the people," said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) chair and Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano.
The groups noted that IRRI, after the Green Revolution in the ’70s and its introduction of the high yielding varieties, nearly wiped out the country's traditional varieties.
Currently, they added, IRRI director general Robert Zeigler is calling for another green revolution, increased investments in rice research, delivery of best technology to farmers and productive pro-poor public and private sector partnerships.
Zeigler had said these were needed in response to the rice shortage in the country, which was a result of a convergence of events such as rapid population and economic growth in Asia, decrease in farm lands and decrease in water supply.
However, the group Resist Network stressed that the country could only attain true food security and self sufficiency that would genuinely boost Philippine agriculture and productivity through the firm cooperation of farmers, scientists and other groups.
According to Agham president Giovanni Tapang, Filipino scientists are "more than wiling to help in the development of Philippine agriculture that serves Filipino farmers and pro-Filipino interests."
Scientists affiliated with Agham and the Resist Network had thus given their support for the passage of House Bill No. 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) and HB No. 3058 or the Rice Industry Development Act (Rida).
Both house bills are sponsored by militant partly-list representatives from Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela.
Tapang had stressed that "the GARB is the true solution to the age-old problem of landlessness and feudal exploitation in the country, as well as to the exacerbating food crisis which brings further suffering to the hungry and impoverished Filipinos."
Bantay Bigas convener Antonio Flores said the Rida will "pave the way for the development and protection of our rice industry into a self-reliant and sustainable economic element of our national development and bring the country away from import-dependency and food insecurity."
"To resolve the present rice crisis and prevent another one, there is no other alternative but to push for genuine land reform," Flores added.
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