ILOILO City – The high cost of farm inputs is projected to adversely affect Western Visayas’ ability to produce more rice.
According to Department of Agriculture (DA) regional executive director Remelyn Recoter, the price of fertilizer has tripled – from the pre-pandemic P900 per sack, the price is now almost P3,000.
“Palay is our staple food. If there is no proper intervention, there’s a possibility nga magnubu ang production. Ang inputs puerte ka mahal,” said Recoter.
The prohibitive cost could discourage some farmers to plant palay, or they will lessen the use of fertilizers, which in turn would shrink production, she explained.
The prices of feeds for livestock have doubled, too, said Recoter.
“We supply Metro Manila with live hogs. Our hog raisers make good because live hogs are pricey. But feeds are costly, too. Hog raisers are feeling the pinch,” she noted.
The high cost of farm inputs such fertilizers and hog feeds as well as the high fuel prices have a “domino effect,” said Recoter.
“Western Visayas’ inflation has risen to 5.4 percent,” she revealed, affecting the household food basket — rice, meat, vegetables, and seafood,” said Recoter.
The total palay production of Region 6 in the first quarter of 2022 was 646,288.48 metric tons (MT) – a 1.99 percent drop from the production in the same period in 2021.
The 1.99 percent dip is equivalent to 13,089.62 MT.
With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. taking the lead in the Agriculture department, Recoter expects interventions to address food production worries triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, climate-related events like typhoons, and trans-boundary diseases like African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza or bird flu.
Currently, Recoter said, the department’s Rice Resiliency Project II (RRP II) provides free seeds and fertilizer subsidies to increase the productivity of farms and ensure food security.
The department is also focused on enhancement of urban agriculture particularly in urban centers like Iloilo City.
Recoter cited the city government’s Food Security Program like the “JPT Ediscape (edible landscaping)” that promotes barangay-based food cultivation.
“Kon mismo ang pumoluyo sang syudad paagi sa urban gardening and urban agriculture, Gulayan sa Paaralan kag iban pa nga hilikuton, makahatag ini sang sufficient nga pagkaon,” said Recoter.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of food security is very important, she pointed out.
“That’s why we partnered with the city government through Kadiwa ni ANi at Kita. Para ang mga produkto halin sa kabararanggayan makalab-ot sa syudad,” said Recoter./PN
