Dept of Agriculture Sec Alcala Plans to have PH export Rice in 4 years.

An Ateneo Graduate School of Business Advantage

This is the kind of vision that we seldom see/hear from other cabinet Secretary.  Congratulations to Sec. Proceso Alcala who declared that Philippines would export rice to the region in 4 years time.  By 2013, Phil would be self sufficient, by 2014, there would be no more importation, and by 20l5, PH would export rice.

Phil imports up to more than million metric tons of rice every year.  This causes spikes in prices of rice in the region.  Alcala hopes to reduce the importation to only 500,000 metric tons in 2012.

But the country has still millions of land are still available for agriculture.  There is irrigation available.  In Mindanao and some parts of Visayas, there is seldom typhoon and it rains frequently (obviating need for irrigation) and the soil is fertile. There is also the high yielding rice variety, the SL5 by Henry Lim that yields 300 cavans/hectare.  Unfortunately, DA does not buy it.  HL sells the seeds to countries from where PH buys rice.  Politics, indifference, lack of vision, and concerted efforts are the stumbling blocks.  And with Sec Alcala declaring this vision, we wish him well.  (From PDI December l7, 2011 issue page A6)

Do you think Ph can achieve this goal?