Farmers slam lobby to block extension of 2 rice programs

Rice farmers all over the country asked Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. yesterday through the National Food Authority (NFA) to ignore recommendations not to extend the government’s rice programs until February next year.

In a statement, the National Confederation of Irrigators Association, Hukbalahap Veterans, Regional Farmers Action Council, Philippine Farmers Advisory Board, and other farmers’ groups noted the indifference of Raul Montemayor to the continuity of the Farmers as Importers Program (FIP) and Farmers as Distributors Program (FDP) designed to stabilize the prices and provide additional income to farmers.

They, however, expressed support to NFA Administrator Arthur Yap for his cooperation that led to the successful implementation of the programs in April until August.

On the other hand, they asked Montemayor to stop lobbying causes that will defeat the objective of President Arroyo’s anti-poverty thrust through FIP and FDP.

They claimed Montemayor must not speak for them, saying he misrepresented the farmers when he recommended not to extend rice programs.

Montemayor told the NFA council that only 72 percent of the farmers’ cooperatives nationwide, mostly from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, benefited from the programs.

His wrong move was even seconded by a women’s group based in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City and several national associations not affiliated with any legitimate farmers’ groups in the country.