Agriculture new thinking transformed into new action

To continue Secretary William Dar’s agriculture turnaround 2.9-percent third quarter growth momentum, his new thinking must now transform into new action. This should be done especially in three key areas: rice, road maps and agriculture extension.

Rice

On Aug. 13 last year, Dar announced his “new thinking” strategy with the mission “to collectively empower farmers and fisherfolk and the private sector to increase agricultural productivity and profitability.”

In rice, this new empowerment has to be improved. Last Dec. 17, rice farmers and agribusiness leaders met with Department of Agriculture (DA) officials at the Rice and Staples Committee meeting of the Philippine Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Council. They again proposed that safeguard duties be added to the 35 percent rice tariff. This low tariff had caused farmer incomes to drop by 56 percent: from P32,000 to P14,280 a hectare. But government sources have stated that the 35-percent tariff will remain for at least another year. This is inspite of an AA formal petition as early as Aug. 13 that safeguards should be implemented because of a proven rice import surge.

At this meeting, the DA was asked once more to give the computed tariff rate that equalizes the imported to domestic rice price. This is the starting point of most countries, which is then decreased according to a specific timetable. Since 35 percent is not that equalizing rate, theDA was asked to provide their computed rate. So far, no response.If the 35 percent tariff is not adjusted immediately, farmers will continue to suffer huge losses. They will consequently plant much less if they believe the current tariff will remain, with imported prices depressing their domestic selling prices.With the expected severe drought this year in our import source countries such as Vietnam, and much less domestic production, we will have a severe rice shortage. However, the government has not given its forecast of this precarious rice supply situation. This appears inconsistent with Dar’s new thinking of empowerment.

Road maps

Among his eight paradigms, Dar said: “road map development is paramount”. The new action required here is that the few agriculture road maps that exist today have to be improved to world-class standards. This will then become similar to the more comprehensive 33 industry sector road maps that have contributed to industry’s 6.8 percent growth over the last six years, compared to agriculture’s 1.6 percent.

At the Jan. 4 meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Agricultural Food, Inc. (PCAFI) headed by Danilo Fausto, the 55 agriculture subsector leaders pledged to contribute to road map development. This time, the road maps should have a guiding outline. This will expand the production emphasis to the entire value chain, include domestic and global considerations, and identify competition and future scenarios. Agricultural plans and actions cannot proceed effectively without direction from a well-crafted road map.Agriculture extension

A third imperative to put into extensive action is Dar’s new thinking of “Provincial Agriculture Extension Services”. When the 17,000 agriculture extension services were devolved from DA to the local government units, the DA did not provide the required guidance for them. Thanks also to recommendations from the science and academe-based Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP), there will now be an integrated DA- provincial government initiative that will finally provide the missing technical extension assistance to farmers.

Four pilot provinces will be operative by July. While extensive pilots with all the details are appropriate, the essential components of this approach should be implemented in each province as soon as possible. Climate change and global competition are upon us. Our farmers and fisherfolk need whatever they can get from this integrated DA-Provincial Government initiative. Dar has identified this as an urgent concern which should get our full cooperation.

This year, new action in the above three areas will further improve the turnaround and momentum Dar has admirably started last year. INQ

The author is Agriwatch chair, former secretary of Presidential Programs and Projects and former undersecretary of Agriculture and Trade and Industry. Contact him via [email protected]