FOOD security adviser and former Department of Agriculture secretary Manny Piñol wants to expand Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) project to address the rising prices of basic commodities.
During the Wednesdays Media Forum on October 5, Piñol said the government should address the flawed marketing system in the country wherein private players are the ones mostly involved in the transport of commodities.
Piñol said this system usually racks up the prices of farm products and leaves little earnings for farmers but through the FTI, it will provide an efficient system for farm produce from remote areas to reach population centers, eliminating middlemen and keeping prices as low as possible.
He added that products can also be kept fresh through transit by the use of refrigerators.
“What if the government can consider my recommendation to buy refrigerated boats and these boats can make rounds in key production areas in the country? We can bring the (produce) to Manila in refrigerated containers,” Piñol said.
The FTI would carry basic commodities produced in abundance in different provinces in the country, including rice, fish, chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, and fruits.
The food security adviser added that this system would be efficiently done if the national government could keep a digital database or a map of different commodities available per key province.
“If only there is an efficient system of buying produce front the production areas using government facilities, bringing these to outlets in big cities to be sold at lower prices. That’s the only way we can bring down the prices,” Piñol said.
Other than the FTI, Piñol said he continues to advocate for food sufficiency in the country and believes that it could be achieved if farmers are well-assisted by the government.
To gain self-sufficiency when it comes to rice, Piñol said the country needs to irrigate another one million hectares of farmland which would produce six metric tons of rice per hectare twice a year.
“Igiling mo iyan, sabihin pa natin 50 percent recovery lang, that 4.5 million metric tons ng bigas (If we mill that, even with only 50 percent recovery, that would produce 4.5 million metric tons of rice) which is over and beyond what we are importing right now,” he said.
Piñol emphasized that the government should not be entirely dependent on importation from other countries for basic commodities, including rice, as other countries may stop exporting or even increase their prices.
In turn, the country would experience more shortages and higher prices for basic commodities when the time comes.
“Kaya ng farmer mag produce (The farmer is able to produce) but give him the fair price for his labor. Ang food security is not just about having food today, it’s about preparing for the next generation,” Piñol said. ICM