DA chief slams IRRI for attacks on rice sufficiency program

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines  – Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala slammed yesterday the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for doubting that the Philippines could attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

Speaking to reporters, Alcala said IRRI does not have a grasp of the country’s overall rice production, having confined its operations to Los Baños, Laguna.

“They (IRRI experts) just stay in Los Baños,” he said. “They don’t go around the country to get the actual situation.”

Alcala spoke at the inauguration of the P22.5-million Benigno Aquino Sr. Farmers’ Training Center at the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems yesterday morning.

He was responding to a statement of Dr. Achim Dobermman, IRRI deputy director for research, that government’s 2013 target was “somewhat ambitious.”

Alcala said during recent floods in Mindanao IRRI people refused to go to calamity areas.

“They are afraid to go there because of the floods,” he said.

Alcala said the administration is focused on various programs and policies, unlike past administrations.

“In the past, if the program is on seeds, they only focused on seeds,” he said.

“In our case, we focus on post harvest facilities, irrigation, among others.”

Alcala said the government is determined to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

“My friends in Congress have been telling me not to give a self-imposed deadline on rice self-sufficiency but we are determined to meet our targets,” he said.

Alcala said if farmers use a new rice variety that yields seven tons per hectare, the government no longer needs to import rice in the future.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute has developed a new in-bred variety 222 that nearly doubles the current average of 3.8 tons per hectare, he added.

Alcala squelched speculations yesterday that National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Antonio Nangel is on the way out.

“I think they would not remove someone who is performing,” he said in Filipino.

Alcala said reports that Nangel would be replaced are unfounded and baseless, and should not be dignified.

Agriculture Undersecretary for administration and finance Antonio Fleta said Nangel brings to the job his excellent track record as a public servant. – Manny Galvez, Dino Balabo