“Immediate relief should be given to farmers affected by rice black bug!”-BAYAN-Bikol. Region’s food security also threatened

Posted by Bikol ESCR
28 Oct 2010
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News Release

October 1, 2010

Reference: Tessa Lopez, public information officer, BAYAN-Bikol

“Immediate relief should be given to farmers affected by rice black bug!”-BAYAN-Bikol

Region’s food security also threatened

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) called on the local and national government to immediately give economic relief to the farmers affected by the rice black bug (RBB) pest that is attacking the rice crops of the region. To date P16.7 million worth of rice crops have already been damaged in Albay alone.

According to Tessa Lopez, public information officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “The bugs have already destroyed almost a thousand hectares of rice plants in the towns of Guinobatan, Oas and Polangui and in Ligao City, considered the rice granary of Albay as well as in the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes. If this continues then the farmers will have no harvest and they will go bankrupt, aside from this the food security of the region is also at stake,”

“The government should extend no interest loans to farmers affected and they should also impose on landlords not to collect debts from affected farmers for at least 2 cropping seasons. Alternative livelihood should also be given if the pest attack persists,” she said.

“The administration should also urgently address the bug infestation but with careful study so that the methods that the government agencies may use will not damage the environment or just make the bugs resistant to pesticides. They should also make a study why the bugs are so numerous now and why they are attacking at this time, is climate change also a factor for the pests and how can it be mitigated?” added Lopez.

“With the Aquino administration’s target to be rice self-sufficient in the next three years, it is imperative that this problem be addressed adequately along with the implementation of genuine agrarian reform because if not then we will continue to be the top rice importer in the world,” ended Lopez. # # #

Tags:

RIGHT OF FAMILIES TO PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE

“Immediate relief should be given to farmers affected by rice black bug!”-BAYAN-Bikol. Region’s food security also threatened

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