BACOLOD City – Several farmer’s organizations in Negros Occidental is strongly demanding to the national government to stop the importation of sugar, rice, and other agricultural products, during a press conference held on March 2, at the Negros Press Club building, here.
The group also asked to help the producers, especially the smaller farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries by subsidizing production, providing cheap fertilizer and farm inputs, free irrigation, subsidizing machinery and equipment, and marketing support.
They also demand to urgently stop and roll back the ongoing oil price increases that raise so high the prices of fertilizers and farm inputs, transportation expenses, farm machinery and equipment, and the basic needs of the farmers, farmworkers, and the people.
The farmers demand to scrap the excise tax on fuel and other petroleum products.
They cited, the Philippine Constitution provides that relying on other countries for food is contrary to food security, and will threaten the improved quality of life for all.
“The basic human right to food, a self-reliant and independent economy, comprehensive rural development, agrarian reform, and rights of farmers and farmworkers,” the group said.
The groups joined the press conference were the Kaisahan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan; Negros Center for People Empowerment and Rural Development; Negros Island Federation of Agrarian Reform Cooperatives; Negros Occidental Federation of Farmers’ Association.
The Kaisahan ng mga Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Kanayunan; Damayan ng mga Manggagawa , Magsasaka at Mangingisda sa Bansa Inc.; and some agrarian reform beneficiaries were also in attendance./PN
