Apr
27Thoughts on the Rice Crisis
Filed Under (Economy) by Sarah Songalia on 27-04-2008
Tagged Under : Economy, rice, Tanauan
on this post
I just facilitated a budgeting and forecasting workshop in Entrepreneurs Accounting Academy and one participant caught my attention regarding his reason for attending the workshop. To cut the story short, he was the General Manager of an agro firm based in Mindoro and the main reason why he attended the workshop was because they saw the rice crisis as an opportunity for the company to earn more and would like to align resources for this. During the lunch break he came to my office and asked if he could discuss something with me. During our discussion, I could not help but think of Tanauan, Leyte.
Tanauan, Leyte is such a “landed†town. To prove this, aren’t most of us who were able to graduate from college were one way or the other funded through the produce of our family’s farmland? I, for one, know that my great grandparents do have a lot of farmland in Tanauan, Leyte though I am not sure if these still exist. When I was a kid, I would see sacks and sacks of rice being delivered to my great grandparents place. Over the years though, that has considerably dwindled. I would not know the reason, as I am not privy to these things. However, the truth remains that rice is not such a problem for us in Tanauan, Leyte, then. Whatever the is situation now, I would not know, as I am also guilty of leaving my hometown in search for a better life.
In this context, I am just curious as to the economic program of our town with regards to agriculture. The last time I was home, I had a chat with our Hon. Mayor Roque Tiu and if I remember right he did tell me something about schools in some of the barangays who were teaching modern farming. This is a good start. I, however, am apprehensive if an economic program that would help the graduates start something on their own supports this action.
I was in Dagupan City, Pangasinan a few weeks ago to visit clients and a client of mine was talking about a certain ordinance entitled the Investment Code of Dagupan. When I saw the write-up, I was not surprised knowing the economic landscape of Dagupan City. But come to think of it, Dagupan is such a small place. It is in between municipalities that if you could go to all the places in Singapore in just a day, in Dagupan you can see all the places in just half of a day. It is a wonder that for such a small place, you can see branches of all the major banks in Manila there which only points out the fact that there is a lot of money circulating in the market. To make comparisons more glaring, Dagupan, City is composed of only 31 barangays, 22 barangays short than what we have. But, hey, don’t get me wrong. I am only making the comparisons to say that economically, it is not a question of whether we have a chance because it has been seen that everyone has but a question of whether we have the plan to make our town a viable economic zone.
Going back to the rice crisis, had we given attention to our agricultural industry, we could have stood a chance in creating an opportunity for our town in this situation. I am not saying that we could take advantage of the situation to make profits of our own (though I am not sure also if the rice cartel they are saying in Leyte is really existent as I have no first hand knowledge) but we could have helped our fellow Tanauanons rise beyond what they normally experience in terms of income and make them part of a national cause. But you know that was just a thought that crossed my mind.
An economic plan is somewhat like a plan for your life. What you want to be, where you would get the resources, how you are going to get where you want to be and all the other things to be considered. Just like what Arch. Hector Gomez was saying in the construction of the public market. We cannot just go on constructing here and there and planting here and everywhere without any plan that will integrate all our actions together. I guess, all these things that we are experiencing is just a consequence of what the macroeconomic landscape also is. Yet, at the back of my mind, a question so insistently wants to be said out loud: “How come nobody in Tanauan, Leyte has so wholeheartedly stayed to develop the potential of the town? Are we so poor and unattractive and lacking in resources as not to get the attention of anyone wanting to invest in the Philippines? And how come over the years, the economic infrastructure of our town has not been so touched with changes that will make a difference in the lives of the Tanauanenos that will in turn make them stay instead of leaving their hometown in search for a better life? Are we really the “bungto han kamagaraman�
This rice crisis is not a joke. Two weeks ago, my family purchased rice and the price per kilo was 36.50 pesos. A month before that, the price per kilo of the rice was only 26.50 pesos. This morning we had to buy rice again and you know how much the price per kilo was? It was 40.50 per kilo. In a span of less than two months, the price of rice increased by 53%. You can just imagine the impact this has on the low-income families. I pray that this will not affect our hometown for if this problem will cascade to Tanauan, Leyte (if it hasn’t, yet), it would really be ironic. These are just my thoughts on the matter. I am looking forward to visiting my hometown again and see what can be done. Probably, all those enjoying a better life in other places would like to be part of a big cause all for our beloved hometown. As our Hon. Mayor aptly puts it in his reply to the blog of Hector Gomez: “Hope others who have nothing to do will follow your pagmamalasakit han aton bungto†referring to the many ideas HG said on his open letter. Let’s all try to discuss these ideas in this website. It’s been a while since my last blog, which talked about economies of scale, but I have been reading some of the posts. Thank you all for making tanauanleyte.com a part of your routine. Best regards to everyone!!!
gumawas ak ha pinas kay waray ko mahimo hiton ak mga inop para hit ak pamilya.
Nag huna huna ak mag tindog hin mahihimo nga negosyo para ha huron.
pero ambot la kun matutuhay.
Yana nga humataas an value hit peso vs. dollar, dako nga lugi iton gawas ha am mgaa OFW.
Naka katawa kay nag padara mga OFW hin sustento ha mga dependents ha pinas , tapos ira pinanmamalait mga imported liwat ng mga gamit from China…
iton gawas waray revenue hiton local kay liwat waray naton producto angay i patronize locally… of course mayda gad… pagkaon la.
unta san-o ni Mayor matapos iton iya term, majhimuan hin resolution iton aton baybayon.
akon nahunahunaan nga solution hiton pag ka anas hiton baybayon, simple erosion…
han battle of leyte gulf, damo nga mga abandoned sea crafts and some artifacts jetisoned during the war remain submerged in the sea along the Dulag-Tanauan coast line.
These sag-od form part of the sea bed and within its cavities grew virtual cities of various fish species. It was transformed into a rich fish sanctuary.
Likewise, being heavy metals, were not carried by strong current but virtually protected the sea bed from direct exposure to erosion.
Liwat, nanumdum ak nga nagriko hadton Kiba han pagpinatong han mga war materials recovered from the coastline.
Also, an paguyod, now i realize was a grossly destructive practice of fishing.
kay diri man lutaw kundi pati sag-od naguguyod ngada ha saka.
together with these practices of fishing and the removal of salvageable metals doomed the coastal area.
the sea bed was exposed to direct contact with current, thus the loss of the shoreline.
there is one sure way to retain and restore the shoreline…
ANd also to restore its pristine condition on the 1960s. diri sugad hit yana makakatamak ka hin malagay mga baya hin tawo…. kay nahimo naman nga kalalaba nga CR liwat.
Seawall like jackstone like concrete precast blocks stewn across the line far into the sea tupong hit pier.
matikangan la bisan la 100meters per year.
pero diri matubaw hiton dagat… mga 4meters palunod para mapusak anay iton balod. mag accummulate iton it sea sand pag dalagan hiton sulog.
gawas hiton baga salod la…. para diri directa maanas ngadto ha kahiladman.
pero himuan hin kalsada baga partition… para diri na mag inus ugon liwat iton mga balay… (pati gihap CR, hehehe.)
Sunod nala… tapos na break….
trabaho utro…
2pm na didi…or 6pm dida…
God bless you all… Tanauan nanons…
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Senior Medb,
Mupay iton imo suggestion pero mas maupay con iba an imo tema!! Alam mo na ang nangyayari sa buong mundo - gutom at gulo!! At bigla mong isisingit ang suggestion mo.Wow man, you are something!! You also have the makings of a pessimist!! Go ahead with what ever plans you have and good luck!! Next time I hope you understand what this site serves for!! This is not for some difficult nonsense. Come on man, post something with sense! Not the other way around!! O.K.?? Gracias y ciaoooo!!!
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right! let’s focus on the issue and see how far it will take us. i though of this pag uma (rice planting) is something i plan to do when i go home. i feel that by doing rice farming could help out those families that buy rice everyday be able to afford at a reasonably lower price. it may sound a fallacy and think its crazy but it is not. it is just something i want to do over time to help others. i also think of this as an opportunity for farmers to really get into because it is economically viable micro to small scale business, granting the irrigation systems and farm to market road are in place and available for use. these two elements are the key can help farmers be able to harvest 2 to 3 times a year and be able to deliver their goods without delay.one may ask how can you have that amount of harvest per year? well i’m not the expert but i have good news for you, DA will provide you with the resources in rice farming and even VESCA in Baybay, Leyte, they have seminar in rice farming. ultimately you will need financing for your equipment and supplies in order for you to get started. after this is all said and done, however, you still will need it to bring your palay to a post harvest facility for the production of rice and i am hoping DA will grant us the fund to build a big one in our town..the idea is to be pro active, if we are to achieved sustainable growth, self sufficiency and economic progress and i am only referring to our town then we need to take every step of the way for our own sustainability.
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Ginoong B.Saavedra,
Such a positive thinking. Very positive indeed that you are going to harvest 3 times a year. Pero what about the natural calamities sir??
This rice planting business is only profitable if you have everything. If you have your farm tractors,threshers,transplanters transport and all.If you rent for machines and hire more people you could even be in the red. No sir I am not a pessimist.I am at looking at the real results. Just visit the farmers in some provinces in Luzon and I am not at all a pessimist.Talking about the farmers who rent for every farm equipment and hire more people!!
This is an interesting post you have. Hope you succeed in your targeted endeavor. Magandang hapon sa ‘yo B.S. Hope we meet someday!! Salamat nga damo!!
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baga ka man hit hubog Apple.
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corn is another alternative for rice, I remember way back 1970’s there’s corn grain sold at a cheaper price than rice. it’s not the yellowcorn from the US. check the recipes for polenta.
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Food grain shortage may have many reasons but two main reasons we are not taking into consideration. They are excessive urban growth and pruning agricultural lands and agriculture as non profitable business any more. One of the richest states (KERALA) in India has turned as consumer state rather than producing. 25 years back it produced rice and sold to other states now as the land converted to urban and houses has resulted shortage of agricultural land the main culprit for this issue is non profitable business. This situation will further aggravate if state government does step up for immediate action.
Similar situation is now with entire world, demand is more and production is less due to imbalanced economic policies. More attention is given to urban economic growth than the rural research and development. A day will come when a slogan or will find ad “Buy one kg of rice and get a laptops free†as computers and other electronic products will be much cheaper. Economic growth has to be balanced considering social condition of the country. Banning exports of essential items is only temporary solution to overcome present situation but for future food grain shortage will further aggravate as
• Global warming (even excessive urbanization has role to warm our globe). Excessive human population, Excessive concrete buildings - industries, carbon fuel based transportations heat up environment to reduce moisture in land results shortage and uncertain rain, river shrinkage, draught, shortage of water and so on.
• 25 years back there was more agricultural land than of today many of them converted to more and more housing and industrial lands; whereas population growing fast, feeding will become challenge to most countries even developed countries will not escape. Nature’s priority is water, food and then shelter. Economic and scientific growth need to be first based on human needs.
• Urban related economic growth thrusts agricultural land conversion to cities and building to accommodate urban population and industries. Over 20% of farm lands of developing countries have been converted to cities and buildings for the past decade and Over 50% of farmlands of villages (close to cities) got merged with cities.
• Non profitable food grain production (international organization and appropriate governments shall have to reconsider bring back agricultural subsidies). Also make agriculture more profitable by linking customer and farmers by way of direct procurement by large stores, and other agencies so mediators and brokers are kept away.
• Escalation of essential food prices by “Satta†future trading helps hording so less and less mediators between producer and final customer. Present system of trading agricultural goods only helps middlemen from wholesalers to brokers. Their financial power helps them hold back stock to create artificial shortage.
• Irrigation and water shortage (In fact water crisis is there but in some states and countries water is excessive causing disaster or consumed by sea. If scientists of missiles or warplanes work on how river water reaches sea after consumed by entire world, would convert desert land to fertile land).
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your right! ms apple, mother nature can spoil our plans and we see it right infront of our eyes vanished before it is even ripe for harvest. but mother nature is good as well, she has provided balance for our existence.
if you have any plans in coming to Tanauan any time soon. we are coming in august to hold our annual medical mission and balik ayuda project as part of the fiesta celebration activities. it is a fun activities for us and i hope you can take this opportunity to meet with us and join our group for a couple of days for a good cause.
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For the typical small rice farmer, there is not much in farming. It is even a losing proposition if he deals with loan sharks. This is one of the reasons why some would rather squat in metro manila and work at odd jobs rather than farm. With the raging food issue, now is the time to make farming profitable for these farmers by providing them with credit, postharvest facilities and irrigation. If Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have the Mekong Delta, then Tanauan has its Binahaan river. Binahaan remains untapped for irrigation in Tanauan. It is even wreaking havoc along its route decimating farmlands through erosion. Ironically, all the silt produced are now dumped in the shores of San Joaquin. This brings up the issue of erosion in Tanauan’s shoreline blamed on, among others, the diversion of Binahaan to San Joaquin. This could be mere speculation as some people claim, but what do you make from this: while Tanauan’s shore is steadily losing sand to the tides, San Joaquin’s sand quarying industry is selling sand on a scale not seen before. We are talking here of two neighboring areas not more than 4 kilometers apart.
Given the problems above, I propose two things for Binahaan: (1) harness its water for irrigation and (2) re-direct its flow to where nature originally intended it to be - Tanauan’s baybayon.
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wow… Ms. Apple Manzanero, you’re like a rotten apple, a professional behaving like an unprofessional mongrel. MedB is just giving a suggestion based on his opinion of what he perceived could contribute to the welfare of our beloved Tanauan, especially the coastline of Tanauan. Though, his scheme was diverted out from the real issue, don’t ever dare say that what MedB was trying to impart is damn nonsense. And to call him a ” pessimist in the making” is rude and ill-mannered. I hope you were in your sound mind when you posted your comment here. Nagpapakita la nga waray ka concern hit aton environment. I hope you were not under the influence of liquor or drugs when you posted your comment. Baga ka hin HUBOG as what ligiron said.
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hahahaha balitaw gad ano, baga na gud hin siga, pasensya na bangin naka tumar hin ecstasy
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Ortica,
Maupay nga aga Erotica!! Seguro user ka hiton nga dope kay di ka masiring hin sugad kon waray nimo experiencia !! Ano nga pala ang pakiramdam mo pagkatapos mong lumunok ng dope na yan. Aver kwentuhan mo naman ang iba!! Wag kang mahiya.Wala namang nakakaalam sa tunay na katauhan mo.Dito sa blogsite!!
Ang akala ko e nilulunok talaga ang dope na yan!! Yon pala katulad hiton imo siring tinutumar pala.Iba na talaga ang me karanasan!! Talagang me alam.Sorry kasi wala akong alam sa mga katarantaduhang yan tungkol sa ecstasy.
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ginsusun-od gad la iton hit tinula nga sapsap, o diri ngani ginhahatukan hit kalibkib.
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sorry, I’m not that erotic, if you want further, and precise information, use your keyboard and perhaps a good suggestion, why not try searching it in wiki. this might help your interest, di ba? oh by the way, it seems you’re too intelligent, you could be qualified as a MENSA member. there you can exchange and relate your opinion and comments with your own level. I
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