by Christine HerreraOriginal Story: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2010/january/13/nation4.isx&d=2010/january/13
The ruling party’s presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. wants to make farming more profitable as Rep. Walden Bello of Akbayan party-list calls for government’s intervention in the “looming rice crisis.”
Teodoro urged scientists to develop quick-growing rice varieties and fruit crops to boost farm production and make the country self-sufficient.
“Farming is a key to achieving food security and hastening the country’s industrialization,” said the standard-bearer of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
He stressed the need for state investments and incentives to Filipino farmers so that they can make a good living out of the soil, thus encouraging their sons to follow in their footsteps.
For Bello, the immediate need is to ensure adequate supply and stable prices of rice and other essential commodities.
Traders forecast rice prices to increase by 60 percent within the year, according to the lawmaker.
Bello urged the National Food Authority to rein in rice prices by releasing stocks in the market.
At the same time, government must intensify its purchases of palay at the farms in order to ensure that it has the means to influence prices in the coming months, he said.
Original Story: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2010/january/13/nation4.isx&d=2010/january/13
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