4 years since rice tariffication: Farmers' income per hectare shrank by 40%

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This October 15, 2021 photo shows a rice field in Nueva Ecija.

Philstar.com / EC Toledo IV, file

 

MANILA, Philippines — A research and advocacy group has renewed the call to junk the Rice Liberalization Law, saying it has failed to deliver on the promise of boosting farmers' incomes and worsening the country's import dependency four years since it took effect.

 

An analysis by IBON foundation published Tuesday found that rice farmers' net returns per hectare decreased by around 40% – or from P32,976 to P19,680 – after rice tarrification was implemented in 2019.

 

"The effect is even worse when inflation is taken into account. When adjusted for 2018 prices, the real income rice farmers lost is worth P15,053,” the think tank said. “Not only did farmers lose money since rice liberalization, but their purchasing power also weakened as well.”

 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/15/2245174/4-years-rice-tariffication-farmers-income-hectare-shrank-40

 

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