DA-proposed Rice Bill gains support from Mindanao rice stakeholders

 

Cagayan de Oro City – The administrative Rice Bill proposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) has gained the support of Mindanao rice stakeholders after a consultative meeting on October 27, here.

Mindanao rice farmers, traders, millers and importers, local government units, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) from Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and BARMM, and policymakers manifested their support after a multi-party dialogue aimed at refining the proposed bill.

The DA-version rice bill seeks to reform the country’s rice industry by restoring calibrated state capacity, integrating Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and National Rice Program, rebuilding national extension support system, balancing consumer welfare and farmer share, sustaining domestic production and planting intentions, rebuilding and modernizing the NFA, and incentivizing private sector and value chain actors.

A key provision of the bill is the creation of the National Rice Security Council (NRSC) as the primary policy-making and coordinating body to ensuring stable, affordable, accessible, and sufficient rice supply in the country.

To unify all government efforts in scaling up the rice industry, the Bill espoused the creation of the Philippine Rice Industry Development (PRID) Program as the flagship initiative of the government to revolutionize the local rice sector.

Overall, the DA-proposed Rice Bill aims to improve the overall improvement of the rice value chain, and protecting rice farmers planting intention, with the end goal of increasing farmers’ income and productivity.

After the Visayas and Mindanao leg, the nationwide DA-proposed Rice Bill consultative meeting is set to be capped in its Luzon leg on October 28.# (ATT/Photo credits: BJCE)