P20 per kilo of rice impossible – farmers group

The proposed ₱ 20 per kilo of rice in the country is impossible, according to a statement by a group of farmers.

“Sa balangkas at sa umiiral na batas na Rice Tariffication o Rice Liberalization Law, imposible. ‘Yung ₱20 per kilo sa balangkas ng mga patakarang neoliberal, tulad ng umiiral na mga patakaran ng liberalisasyon, deregulasyon… imposibleng makamit,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairman emeritus Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano in a televised interview on Monday, May 16.

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(In the framework and the existing Rice Tariffication law or Rice Liberalization Law, it is impossible. The ₱ 20 per kilo in the framework of neoliberal policies, such as existing liberalization policies and deregulation. It is impossible to achieve.)

However, he clarified that subsidies need to be given to farmers if the government decides to lower the price of rice.

“Ia-address mo ‘yung presyo ng farm inputs eh. Meron kang subsidiya doon sa farm inputs–binhi, abono, at iba pa. At dapat ang farmgate price, ang presyo ng palay sa bukid, ‘pag inani ng magsasaka, eh ‘yung competitive naman. Ibig sabihin, sabi ko nga, kung mapapababa ‘yung cost to produce 1 kg of palay sa ₱6, ₱8 katulad sa Thailand at Vietnam, ibenta man nang–kunin ‘man ‘yon ng ₱16, so meron na agad ₱8…na pwedeng dagdag sa kita ng magsasaka natin,” he noted.

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P20 per kilo of rice impossible – farmers group

(You will address the price of farm inputs. You have a subsidy on farm inputs – seeds, fertilizers, and so on. And the farmgate price, the price of paddy in the field, should be competitive when the farmer harvests. I mean, I said, if the cost to produce 1 kg of rice can be reduced to ₱ 6, ₱ 8 like in Thailand and Vietnam, even if you sell it for ₱ 16, then there will be ₱ right away, which can increase the income of our farmers.)

He also suggested that the government take measures for the welfare of farmers so that the country no longer relies on rice imports.

It will be recalled that presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. promised that he would push the price of rice in the country to ₱ 20 in the face of the pandemic.

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