Philippine Senator Promotes Agri for National Development

Philippine Senate's chair of the committee on agriculture Francisco Pangilinan stressed the importance of more extensive strategies in searching for solutions to various agricultural concerns. He believes that these solutions will help the country to become a developed nation in the next 15 years. He mentioned this in his speech at the 25^th anniversary of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) on 5 November 2010.

"We cannot reach the developed nation status unless we address agriculture, uplift the income of farmers and fisher folks, and ensure food security and rice sufficiency," Pangilinan said. He also honored PhilRice for its "sacrifices in helping the country become rice sufficient" and added that boosting rice production will only be accomplished with the help of other sectors in the implementation of efficient agricultural-related policies and drafting of a road map for agriculture. A multi-sectoral planning workshop will be conducted in January 2011 to device plans to improve rice productivity as well as increase income of farmers.

"Even if we have attained rice sufficiency, but our farmers' conditions are not improved, the war is not fully won. Let us not forget that there are faces [behind the grains that we consume]. It is unjust to increase rice productivity without lifting farmers' economic status," he said.

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