02/02/2025
Rice, Corn, Poultry Industry
Could Collapse In 10 Years
In the next 10 years, the country's Rice and Corn Industry could collapse bringing down with it other allied industries, like poultry and hog raising, whose viability depends on the feed materials coming from the grains sector.
This is because the current pro-importation laws and policies, including the devastating Rice Tariffication Law and the reduced tariff and duties on imported food commodities, have dampened local farmers interest in investing in these sectors.
Last week, I discovered that Corn farmers in the traditional Corn production areas in the highlands of North Cotabato are slowly shifting to other crops while rice farming areas in the lowland are now converted to banana farms.
There is very little hope that these pro-importation laws and policies which work against local production would be amended or abrogated given the strong lobby by vested interests.
The only option left is for Local Government Units, especially Agricultural Provinces like North Cotabato, to establish an autonomous supply and demand chain which would insulate and protect farmers and consumers from he flawed laws and policies.
As I prepare for a possible return to the Cotabato Provincial Capitol, I have designed the Cotabato Rice Republic program and the Integrated Farming System to save the Rice, Corn, Poultry and Meat Production Industries.
The Cotabato Rice Republic will engage members of Cotabato's irrigators Association to produce quality rice with the support of the Provincial Government and the Department tof Agriculture which will be milled and sold locally.
The Cotabato Rice Republic will set a buying price of at least P22 per kilo "clean and dry" for local palay production and a market price of no more than P45 per kilo for premium rice which would protect both farmers and consumers.
The Integrated Farming System will involve for the production of Corn, Sorghum, Soybeans and Copra Meal which are primary materials in feeds production to support the local poultry, hog, cattle and small ruminants sectors.
The program will include a campaign to persuade Rice and Meat Suppliers to support the Autonomous Food Security Strategy by promoting and prioritizing local agricultural products.
It is my hope and dream that North Cotabato will stand out as a model of a local government unit which could liberate itself from oppressive and destructive national polices.
This is the only way to prevent the collapse of the Rice, Corn, Poultry and Meat Industry of the country which could worsen rural poverty.
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