A milestone event in the 60-year partnership between the Philippines and IRRI
September 13, 2023By Leocadio Sebastian
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A milestone event in the 60-year partnership between the Philippines and IRRI Leocadio Sebastian Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Philippine Department of Agriculture
The International Rice Research Institute has always been an important partner of the Philippines and has contributed significantly to our country's rice production modernization. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and its agencies have collaborated with IRRI on key projects to increase the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers, improve the quality of rice, enhance the sustainability of rice production systems, strengthen rice value chains, and develop the next generation of rice scientists and technologies. Under this six decades of partnership, the DA and IRRI have developed 300 improved rice varieties that produce higher, exhibit better resistance to pests and diseases, and can thrive well under the unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change. A study showed that a period of positive productivity growth in major rice-growing areas in the Phillippines rice farming coincided with the introduction of new improved rice varieties. Rice varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases have been a major contributor to the increase in yield and productivity in irrigated areas. There is also evidence that the value of rice production growth due to IRRI and its partners' varietal development programs far outweighed the investments in these programs and varietal improvement still generates positive net economic returns. The net present value of the returns to IRRI's rice varietal improvement outputs in the Philippines was determined to be approximately USD 4.3 billion from 1985 to 2009 and USD 1.2 billion from 1989 to 2009. Despite those gains, rice production in the country remains fragile. In 2022, data from the DA showed a decline in the total rice harvest area and average rice yield. Clearly, the DA-IRRI partnership remains vital to the Philippine Government’s vision of attaining 97% rice self-sufficiency by 2028 and stabilizing the country's rice supply from 24.99 million metric tons to 26.86 million metric tons.
The DA will pursue this goal through its Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRID) 2023-2028, which was approved by President and concurrent DA Secretary Ferdinand Marcos Jr. MRDIP was formulated to address the present challenges in the country’s rice sector and in the years to come. It prioritizes the welfare of Filipino farmers, boosts the rice value chain, and improves agricultural production across the Philippines. During his visit to IRRI, President Marcos emphasized the importance of research and development as the first link in achieving this goal. Thus, we see the International Rice Conference 2023 (IRC2023) in Manila, which the DA is co-hosting with IRRI, as a milestone event. The IRC is primarily a science-driven conference targeting and benefiting the rice industry. It is a global space that allows different stakeholders to interact and exchange ideas, knowledge, technologies, and strategies on how the world's most important staple food will be produced sustainably in years to come, with the politics of rice in the background. Organized every four years, IRC conferences were previously held in Beijing (2002), New Delhi (2006), Hanoi (2010), Bangkok (2014), and Singapore (2018). We recognize that the logistics and costs of attending an important international conference abroad can be prohibitive for many of the country’s rice-sector stakeholders. This is why holding the 6th IRC in our backyard is truly an exceptional occasion. It is an extraordinary opportunity to expose Filipino researchers, development workers, extension agents, policymakers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other stakeholders in the rice value chain to the global developments in the rice industry that could benefit the Philippines from the wealth of ideas, knowledge, strategies, and technologies that will be presented and discussed during the conference. We plan to have a strong contingent in the IRC by encouraging key officials in the Department to attend and participate in the conference. We hope this will allow them to gain knowledge on global developments in the rice industry. We hope to acquire new innovative and transformative insights as we implement the MRIDP. We will also bring in groups of farmer leaders and other rice stakeholders who can share their experiences, interact with experts, and learn from the conference. We hope they will gain vital insights as our partners in enhancing the rice value chain in the Philippines. IRC2023 is also a platform for us to share our work with global participants. Together we can reinforce efforts to emphasize the critical role of rice in global issues such as food security, climate change, and poverty alleviation. With the concerted efforts of all participants, we can gain more support for global rice R&D and find ways to promote partnerships among and between governments, the private sector, and farmers. This is also an opportunity to show our foreign guests what our country, specifically Manila, has to offer. Manila is a megacity that is undergoing a myriad of changes that we Filipinos are proud to show the world. The venue of IRC2023, the Philippine International Convention Centre, is a National Cultural Treasure and is both a historical and remarkable architectural site in the Philippines. Manila is a bustling city with accommodation options that range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels. Manila is also famous for its wide variety of places to explore. Binondo, the oldest China Town in the world established more than 400 ago, and Intramuros, a walled city built by the Spaniards on the south bank of the Pasig River around 1571 are just two spots worth visiting. Interestingly, both cultures have largely contributed to Philippine culture and cuisine. Modern infrastructure, shopping malls, and vibrant nightlife offer a variety of activities outside the conference hours. Most of all, Filipinos are world-famous for being very welcoming. Since “rice is life” continues to be a reality in our country, IRC2023 has truly found a place it can call home.
