DA Assec Warns Rice Stakeholders on QR’s Termination

Assistant Secretary (Assec) Edilberto de Luna briefed the rice stakeholders of rice industry to prepare themselves on the termination of the quantitative restriction (QR) of rice by 2017.

Some 150 rice stakeholders from Regions 6, 7 and 8 convened last Monday in Cebu for the Visayas-wide Rice Consultation to address issues besetting the present rice industry.

The consultation was the last series of activities conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) to enhance the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of the local rice industry.

Now the QR implemented by the country on rice imports is set to end on June 2017.

The QR limits the volume of rice importation of the country to protect local rice farmers on the possible influx of cheap imported rice.

De Luna said there is a need for the rice industry to prepare this eventful scenario. He said there’s a need to craft the best programs and directions to attain competitiveness and self sufficiency in rice.

Among the strategies recommended include rice harvest, by restoring the irrigation facilities, adoption of high yielding varieties, provision of farm equipment and facilities and access to credit, among others.

Raul Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers said the QR is lifted in all agricultural products under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. However, Montemayor said the Philippines had asked for an exemption of QR on rice imports to maintain the stuff’s free trading.

Montemayor added that to ensure protection and safeguard of our local rice farmers is the 35% tariff on rice imported from ASEAN member countries.

He said there is a possibility that the said tariff will be lowered.

“But if even we reach the rice self-sufficiency level, still no assurance that the lives of our farmers will improve.”

There are eight areas identified to contribute the competitiveness of the rice industry, such as seeds and other farm inputs, labor and mechanization and post harvest, irrigation, marketing, credit, farming system, organic farming and institutional arrangements.

Said consultation was attended by representatives from DA Regional Field Offices , local government units, Regional and Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFCs/PAFCs), rice farmer leaders/organizations, traders and millers, seed growers, input suppliers and civil society organizations.