ILOILO CITY – Efforts to avert a rice crisis in the country should focus on ensuring water supply to farms, greater credit access to farmers and providing experts and technology especially in the rural areas, an official of a national organization of rice millers and traders said.

Ricardo Provido, vice president of the Philippine Confederation of Grain Millers and Traders, also assured that there is adequate rice supply at present, but the country should also be prepared for the coming lean months.

PhilCongrains groups around 400 big rice millers and traders in the country.

Provido said national food summit set on April 4 in Clark, Pampanga, to be led by President Macapagal-Arroyo, will focus on coming up with policy recommendations to improve agricultural production especially on palay amid a global crisis in the supply of rice.

The summit which was preceded by area consultations held in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Southern Mindanao, will be attended by around 500 representatives of farmers, millers, traders, scientists and local executives.

“The basic question is: 'Why, in the last 50 years, can't the farmers get out in the quagmire of poverty and raise production as we have hoped for despite the available technology and expertise?'” Provido said in an interview.

He said based on the results of the area consultations, a common problem is the lack of water for agricultural lands.

“Irrigation systems would be useless without adequate water sources,” said Provido.

He said they are recommending that government start the widespread adaptation of rain harvesting technology to store rain water to supply agricultural lands. This could include enacting laws and instituting policies to make rain harvesting mandatory.

Rain harvesting refers to the collection and storage of rain. Collection is usually from rooftops, and storage in catchment tanks. Rainwater harvesting systems can range from a simple containers like barrels to multiple tanks with pumps and controls.

It is mostly practiced in areas with low rainfall or little water access.

Provido said another recommendation is to expand and ensure the access of farmers to credit and financing.

“Most commercial banks find it too risky to grant loans to farmers but without capital, there is no incentive to plant or expand production,” said Provido.

He said the lack of financing has also hampered farmers from adopting advance farming technology and expertise.

Provido said there is no shortage of rice at present because the supply gap between the country's needs and local production will be covered by the importation of rice.

“We're having a bumper harvest because of delayed summer season. As of now, we have no shortage but we have to prepare for lean months,” he said.

Provido said he coming of rains in July to September is unpredictable. “We must position the country to be prepared.”*NPB

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