SAYS IRRI CHIEF
Population, typhoons keep RP from being rice self-sufficient
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:21:00 07/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Rice-unfriendly landscapes, typhoons and high population growth keep the Philippines from being rice self-sufficient, the chief of the International Rice Research Institute said Tuesday.
"This is not a new phenomenon. The Philippines has for the most part been a rice importer," said IRRI director general Robert Zeigler at the sidelines of the ongoing 5th ASEAN informal meeting on science and technology in Manila.
The Philippines, one of the world's largest rice importers, has a population growth rate of 2.04 percent. About 20 typhoons visit the country each year.
And while rice exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam have large river deltas and flatlands, the Philippines has more uplands, Zeigler said.
But the Philippines seems committed to achieving its target of rice self-sufficiency by 2013, Zeigler said.
”Varieties have already been developed. There are management practices to allow varieties to produce near maximum," he said.
The IRRI chief said the country's irrigation infrastructure needs to be refurbished to deliver water in a timely manner. He said post-harvest technologies should be taught to farmers so that the rice gets to the market.
"There is a great need that the latest technologies be delivered to the farmers in a way that they can understand,” he said.
On top of high-quality seeds and appropriate fertilizers, Zeigler said the farmers need to know how to effectively apply these farm inputs.
"We have a rice crisis…but it remains manageable," said the head of the Philippine-based institute. "All governments seem to be addressing the rice crisis situation seriously."
However, Zeigler blamed "policy failures" of various governments particularly those that lead to rapid urbanization, resulting in fewer farmers and shrinking farmlands.
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