Goal of P20 per kilogram rice needs full gov’t support – solon

IN SEARCH OF CHEAP GRAINS | Eddie Pascual waits for customers at a rice stall in Marikina City public market in this photo on May 13, 2022. Attaining food security and bringing down the price of the staple, selling between P38 and P90 a kilo in Pascual’s stall, were major campaign issues in the May 9, 2022, elections. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Magsasaka party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat said on Tuesday that President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “aspiration” of bringing rice prices down to P20 per kilogram would be possible only if farmers were given full government support.

He also called for a review of the Rice Tariffication Law to promote “food sovereignty” and discourage the flooding of Philippine markets with imported rice.

In a statement, Cabatbat said that policymakers should have faith in Filipino farmers by backing moves to revitalize rice planting.

“This means pouring more money into the agriculture sector,” he pointed out, adding that P400 billion would ensure that farmers get basic support services and infrastructure, and cut the high cost of production and marketing, and labor-intensive farm practices.

Cabatbat cited Thailand and Vietnam, which provide full government support and a comprehensive mechanization program to their rice farmers, allowing them to enjoy higher yield and cheaper production costs.

“We should not doubt the capability of local farmers to produce cheap and quality rice. With enough support, appropriate policy changes, the removal of middle men or brokers, and the right managers in the Department of Agriculture who are pro-farmers, P20 per kilo of rice is possible,” he said.

At the same time, he pushed for a review of the Rice Tariffication Law which, according to him, “only allowed [rice] imports to flood local markets.”

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