| Despite Rice Shortage, IRRI Technology Still Questionable |
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| Written by MASIPAG Information Unit | |
| Friday, 04 April 2008 | |
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LOS BANOS, Laguna –The current rice shortage threatening the country and the anniversary of a research institute raises a relevant question: How come in an agricultural country which hosts the International Rice Research Institute for almost half-decade could still experience rice insufficiency? MASIPAG, a nation-wide network of farmers and scientists discusses some of the answers, in a statement today. “For forty-eight years, IRRI has been delving into agricultural research that supposedly provides solutions for common problems in the rice farming system,” said Dr. Chito Medina, an environmental scientist and National Coordinator for MASIPAG. “Yet, with all its modern researches and technologies, the truth remains that rice production remains low and too many people remain hungry.” Founded in 1960, IRRI became a household name all over Asia with its introduction of the Green Revolution program, which promotes the use of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice. This was supposed to be the answer to the increasing hunger incidences in the ‘60s, resulting into a widespread unrest in the countryside, and to bring about development among the farmers’ livelihood. The program also made popular the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and started the practice of monocropping, or the planting of a single variety of rice in a farm. “But it was the opposite that happened,” said Federico Gil, MASIPAG chairman and a farmer in North Cotabato. “We had respectable harvest from the HYVs at first, but as the croppings pass by, it slowly declined. We became dependent on expensive chemical inputs just so we can get the optimum yield.” “My family members became sick because of too much exposure to these chemicals,” said Lucio Gurango, a rice farmer in Real, Quezon. “This added to our expenses which is already high because of the costly inputs. We were buried into so much debts that most of our harvest would go to debt payments.” Aside from the economic problems, many studies have also pointed out the negative effects of too much use of chemicals, especially the soil. This left the soil with little nutrients that crops would not grow properly. Health problems also increased, even bringing about death among former workers of IRRI, who were constantly exposed to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in experimental farms. “It seems that IRRI hasn’t learned its lessons,” observed Dr. Medina. “Much like in the 60s, they are still peddling technologies such as genetically modified rice to supposedly curb the growing hunger and to significantly increase production.” Dr. Medina added: “Because IRRI is simply focused on compartmentalized technology, it gravely overlooks the basic characteristics of their end-users. Majority of the Filipino farmers are poor that most of them do not even till their own lands, and could ill-afford expensive seeds and inputs.” Dr. Medina further noted that monocropping practices greatly increase the possibility of pest-infestation and disease-occurrence, causing severe decline in harvests. “The Philippines has a wide-range of rice varieties that have different qualities and adaptability,” said Jojo Paglumotan, a farmer and rice-breeder from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. “Farmers have to plant those that are best suited to their environment so they could get optimum yields.” “IRRI’s researches do not really address the perpetual problems of the Philippine agriculture,” added Paglumotan. “If we are to truly achieve rice sufficiency and food security, there should be land to till, affordable technologies for the farmers and timely and adequate support from the government.” MASIPAG, which reaches up to 35,000 farmers in the country has been actively promoting sustainable agriculture for the last 20 years. With organic farming, the network believes, food security will be achieved while protecting the rights of Filipino farmers and consumers. |
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