Green Minded

Mindanao rice farmers and the curse of RTL

Mindanao rice farmers and the curse of RTL

by
Mar 28, 2019

For the past weeks, we in MASIPAG Mindanao carefully monitor the current prices of Palay and well-milled rice to see the direct impact relative to the promises made by the Duterte government upon its ratification of RA 11203 or commonly known as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

2018: A bloody year for Filipino farmers

2018: A bloody year for Filipino farmers

by
Jan 01, 2019

A couple of months ago I had a hiatus in writing in this column. The last quarter of 2018 was a terrible part of the year, forgive me I did not have enough courage to write the murders of farmers, farm-workers and a good friend farmer’s lawyer Ben Ramos. Grief and anger consumed me.

Death by Importation, a PH’s Hunger Game

Death by Importation, a PH’s Hunger Game

by
Aug 23, 2018

Earlier this week, Zamboanga city declared a state of calamity due to rice shortage amidst importation. Prices of rice in Zamboanga reached as high as P70 per kilo, leaving consumers especially the poor majority in a disadvantageous position.

Agriculture, another victim of TRAIN law

Agriculture, another victim of TRAIN law

by
May 18, 2018

A recent study presented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) concluded that the implementation of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law reduced rice farmers’ income by around 10%. I hate to say this on the risk of sounding arrogant but — we told you so!

Why celebrate World Food Day when millions are hungry?

Why celebrate World Food Day when millions are hungry?

by
Oct 30, 2017

In 1945, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) declared October 16 as “World Food Day.” Seventy-two years from such declaration, food remains elusive for millions of people worldwide, especially in countries that are colonies and neo-colonies like the Philippines.