The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a warning on Wednesday about an impending food crisis caused by the economy’s repercussions from the coronavirus pandemic, rising gasoline prices, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Nakikita natin at marami na ring mga eksperto ang nagsasabi na there is a looming food crisis. Tayo naman…ay handa tayo…Itong second semester of the year. Nakikita na ninyo ang pagtaas ng presyo ng inputs, kaunti ang mabibili sa global market,” DA Secretary William Dar said in Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras.”
(We can see, and many experts are saying, that there is a looming food crisis. We are… we are ready… This second semester of the year. You can already see the rising price of inputs. Little can be bought in the global market.)
Dar’s statements echoed Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin Adriano, who said that the Philippines’ poor food supply and growing population exacerbated the problem.
“Sa dalawang dekada na yun. Tumataas lang, lumalago lang ang productivity nyan ng 1.1 percent napakababa talaga pero yung population natin lumalaki annually ng 1.4 [percent] kaya kulang na kulang ang production natin,” said Adriano.
(It’s for the last two decades. It’s just increasing, the productivity is only growing by 1.1 percent, it’s really very low, but our population is growing annually by 1.4 [percent], so our production is very low.)
Philippines facing looming food crisis – DA
The government depends on the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan to address the problem, which includes projects to increase the country’s food and agriculture production. The plan was launched in 2021 and is intended to be implemented by 2030.
“We will pass on the document to the next leadership of the department. And as I said, there’s no time for a learning curve to the next officials ng agrikultura. Wala pong time kasi may krisis tayong kinahaharap [There’s no time because we’re facing a crisis],” Adriano said.
The DA also encouraged people to engage in urban farming to help the country’s food production.
“Dapat paghandaan… Bawat Pilipino. Kung pwede, magtanim tayong lahat, mag-alaga at mangisda. Sa urban areas… we have to do it, tayong mamamayan, plantito at plantita,” Dar said.
(Every Filipino must prepare. If possible, let us all plant, nurture, and fish. In urban areas… we have to do it. We are citizens, plantito and plantita.)
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