On the Masagana 99 revival

Time and again, we say that Masagana99 or any iteration of this Marcos Sr-era rice program is not the fix-all solution in achieving rice self-sufficiency. Increasing rice yield without addressing the overall high cost of domestic rice production will be futile.

“We are all for realizing rice self-sufficiency. However, the first step in achieving this is to reverse RA 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law. All past administrations have failed to achieve self-imposed rice-self sufficiency targets. Why? Because the framework and design is very neoliberal and pro-importation,” according for former agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano.

Farmers and agriculturists have earlier dubbed Marcos Jr’s MASAGANA rice program as a rebirth of a disaster. “For more than a decade of Marcos Sr’s MASAGANA 99, damages beyond repair to the environment, farmers’ livelihood, and our food and agricultural systems have already set. The old MASAGANA wiped out more than 4000 local rice varieties across the country while allowing big agrochemical companies to rake in profits. If this is the inspiration and pattern of the regime’s 5-year rice program then we already see its end.”

“Kung gagamitin ang MASAGANA framework, mahirap abutin as a national average ang 150 cavans at 200 cavans hangga’t napakataas ng cost of production sa palay at walang ibinubuhos na suporta at subsidyo sa produksyon para sa magsasaka ang gobyerno,” Mariano said.

“Walang binabanggit sa 5-year rice program ni DA Secretary Marcos na pagbibigay ng kinakailangang production subsidy sa mga magsasaka. Hindi pwedeng basta na lang itataas o iaakyat ang average yield. Kailangan ng production subsidies, tulong sa post-harvest at pagpapataas ng presyo ng palay. Kailangan ng pangkalahatang programa para sa rice industry development,” the peasant leader said.

He said efforts in climate change adaptation, farm clustering or farm consolidation are also limited focused intervention solutions. “The government must give the highest priority to the development of the national rice industry, and in line with prioritization, allocate public resources necessary to enhance to the fullest the productive capacity of the rice industry.”

KMP maintains that rice importation is injurious to our rice farmers. It weakens our rice industry and undermines our effort to achieve food security and food self-sufficiency.###