Urgent concerns about our food supply chain

October 5, 2020

by Orlando Oxales, originally published in The Manila Standard

“Failure to accomplish this non-negotiable deliverable will have unthinkable consequences that will go beyond this pandemic.”

When we enjoy our daily meals, it is the culmination of a complex network of production and supply chains where agriculture, livestock and fisheries ecosystems must deliver their products and services efficiently. The ECQ lockdowns imposed during this health crisis caused disruptions that affected all sectors of society, including the critical supply chains that distribute all the essential food products we need for daily sustenance.

Access to affordable safe and stable food supply is critical to the stability and success of a globalized mega-system of interlinked economies. The pandemic clearly punctuates this reality and how this virus from Wuhan has exploded into an unprecedented global crisis.

Managing food supply chains amidst a pandemic from a multi-stakeholder perspective was the theme of the Stratbase ADR Institute’s virtual town hall discussion where key stakeholders gathered to tackle issues and expert recommendations on policies and regulations that at the end will guarantee Philippine consumers adequate food supplies and strengthen the country’s food security.

Stratbase ADRI President, Prof. Dindo Manhit, in his opening remarks said: “The flow of food and affiliate products must be ensured to unceasingly provide food availability and access to the population. The government should continue to boost its current support to the local agricultural cycle through further implementation of necessary measures that facilitate selling of produce, unhampered movement to various cities, and financial assistance.”

“Investments in the sector’s infrastructure and logistics must be enhanced. E-commerce or online agricultural and food transactions need to be encouraged, coupled with suitable policy and regulations. Meanwhile, developments in the agriculture sector would need the private sector’s engagement, that will promote long-term interests of local farmers and their produce,” Manhit said.

Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan in his keynote speech underlined the importance of prioritizing support for the local economy and espoused the buying of local food products as a form of “ethical consumerism.”

Cayanan clarified that while promoting exports, also considered is the balance between buying local and importation and the DA Secretary’s policy is that import should always be the last resort.

“Buying local and patronizing our homegrown businesses keeps money flowing within the local economy. Small local farms in particular are excellent for the economy because they provide more livelihood and occupation,” Cayanan said.

The president of the Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc. (PAFMI), Stephanie Nicole Garcia, aired industry concerns, in particular a Department Order on the temporary banning of poultry and meat from Brazil and Australia which despite the measure continues unabated citing as an example the doubling of imported dressed chicken in cold storages now at 39,386.97 MT from last year’s 18,991.24 MT.

In support of the DA’s thrust to develop the local agricultural industry, PAFMI urged for a “calibrated implementation of policies” that “don’t steal the livelihood from the local industry” and should balance exportation and importation that develops the agriculture sector.

United Broiler Raisers Association president Elias Jose M. Inciong lamented that the root of the sector’s problems is the stubborn refusal of the DA and the administration to follow the law.

“We need to reexamine how the other countries are playing the game. It must be noted that the NEDA and many economies are very silent on the issues of subsidies. In the US, they have many versions of the Farm Bill subsidizing producers and consumers. But up to this day we do not have an equivalent bill as there is no planning done on the respective agencies,” Inciong said.

Rex E. Agarrado, spokesperson of Philippine Association of Meat Processors, opposed the accreditation of foreign meat establishments as this will be disruptive of the local industry. He expressed the openness of meat processors for balanced safeguards on the importation of meats while pointing out the lack of local suppliers to provide properly processed mechanically deboned meats unlike imports that are mashed and ready for processing.

Magsasaka Party list representative Rep. Argel Cabatabat illustrated how the pandemic had proven that public investments in agriculture and farmers will develop a strong economic pillar and ensure food sovereignty. He proposed a decentralized approach that will result in decongested cities, less pollution, more employment, safer food, and higher profits for farmers.

Even during this economic crisis, agriculture continues to contribute to society and is proving to be the only bright spot in the economy. The comforting take from this gathering of agriculture stakeholders is a sense of urgency expressed by industry representatives to work together with the government in ensuring that every inhabitant of this country will have food on the table. Government responsiveness and multi-industry cooperation toward enabling our country’s agriculture, food production, and distribution affects all of us consumers. For the government, failure to accomplish this non-negotiable deliverable will have unthinkable consequences that will go beyond this pandemic.