Poe presses for full-time agriculture chief: A farmer-in-chief, perhaps?
INDIA RICE EXPORT BAN MAY DISRUPT GLOBAL RICE TRADES: Sen. Grace Poe warns of a possible rice crisis in the country as India – the global leader in rice exportation – recently restricted its rice exports after flooding in some parts of India destroyed rice crops, triggering supply speculations and panic buying in some parts of the world. (Bibo Nueva Espana/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Warning of a spike in global prices of rice, Senator Grace Poe has renewed her call for a full-time Agriculture Secretary to address rising grain cost and other issues hounding the agriculture sector.
Until now, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Poe raised the issue of food security in the Philippines following India’s recent decision to impose an immediate ban on the export of non-basmati white rice to the global market.
“This issue affects our nation’s gut and imperils the food on our plates. If left unaddressed, it will raise the cost of our meals, the anger in our bellies, and the hunger in our streets,” Poe said.
“Our GDP (gross domestic product) may have grown to 6.4% in the first quarter of 2023, but it looks like our GNP or ‘Gutom na Pilipino’ also continues to grow. Ngayon pa lang, marami na sila,” Senator Grace Poe said.
The senator cited a Social Weather Stations survey, showing that three out of 10 Filipinos are “food poor” while an additional 3 out of 10 are “near food poor” or “have barely enough.”
“Samakatuwid, mas marami ang gutom kaysa busog. Ano ang mangyayari sa kanila kapag nagpatuloy ang pagbaba ng suplay ng bigas sa pandaigdigang merkado?” Poe asked.
(Therefore, there are more hungry people than those who are full. What will happen to them if the decline in rice supply in the global market continues?)
Though the country sourced a mere 10,045 metric tons (MT) of rice from India last year, its decision to halt all exports of non-basmati rice could still hurt the Philippines, she said.
In 2022, Poe pointed out that 40 percent or 22M of the 55.4MT of rice traded globally came from India.
Thus, she warned that the decline in global supply from the biggest rice exporter “is expected to cause a spike in global rice prices because of speculation.”
“Those who will fill that gap can certainly charge a premium,” she stressed.
Poe then proposed several measures to address the looming rice crisis, including the appointment of a full-time head at the DA.
“With the long waiting line,” the senator could only wish the President the best of luck as the chief executive plans to pursue a rice import deal with India.
“But while the President makes his ‘charm offensive’, may we suggest he appoint a full-time Agriculture Secretary? A Farmer-in-Chief, perhaps?” Senator Grace Poe asked.
The senator also stressed the country must plug a “leaky irrigation system.”
She noted government’s own report that the country uses around 68 billion cubic meters of water annually to water crops when other countries use only 52 billion cubic meters.
“Either our technology is inefficient, or corruption is proficient,” Poe said.
Making the country’s rice fields resilient to climate and disaster risks is also a must, the senator also said.
Senator Grace Poe likewise hopes the DA would get bigger funding next year and spend the budget expeditiously on things and equipment that farmers need to succeed.
