Philippines cannot be rice self-sufficient, says Duterte

Contrary to the projected development in the year 2020 that the Department of Agriculture claimed, President Rodrigo Duterte said that rice self-sufficiency in the country cannot happen due to rich people’s acquisition of the cultivable land and turning it into cash
crop.

“Of course, we cannot be self- sufficient, why? In rice? Because ourlands that are suitable for plowing has been taken by people who have money for the cash – cash crop, it is no longer food crop,” Duterte said in his speech during his visit in Sultan Kudarat.

With this, the president also called on the Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to speed up its efforts in giving away agricultural fields with no owners to the landless farmers because according to him, there is no use of hanging onto a property which does not serve the Filipino people.

Moreover, Duterte expressed gratitude towards farmers, stressing that they are the ones who “regularly provide people with sustenance and ensure food security despite difficulties such as disasters, price fluctuations and financial shortages.”

To help improve lives of these farmers whom he said are a vital aspect in the survival of the country, Duterte vowed to continue “providing livelihood programs, insurance, production and postharvest trainings and the most important of all, the credit access.”

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 04/ 4 /18)