Stable farm prices, a basic need of our rural economy [editorial]

Title

Language

English

Source

Farming and Cooperatives 1 (1) November 1945

Year

1945

Subject

Agricultural prices--Philippines

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

The government gives importance on the stability of farm prices. One of this is the palay. The prices of palay depends on the harvest season. The farmers or palay growers depends the price ot their palay on the expenses occured during production of the present crop.

Fulltext

EDITORIAL STABLE FARM PRICES, A BASIC NEED OF OUR RURAL ECONOMY 0 NE of the basic needs of the rural districts is stabil1ity of farm . prices. By this we mean existence of a range of prices for farm products that will enable the farmer to obtain from his farming work, an adequate income to make possible the attainment of a cornfo1iable and respectable standard of living, the maintenance of soil fertility, the payment of government taxes and a reasonable interest on invested capital on land, work animals, implements and farm buildings. This is very essential if in this age of business when efficiency and success aore gauged by profit, we are to keep our farmers on the job producing food. An unstable state of farm prices characterized by fluctuation in the market particularly during the harvest season when the farmers are in bad need of cash might lead our business-minded farmers to premise their food production activity on the security of profit, and might not pl'ant in the face of uncertainty. This would be tragic-but shall we expect our farmer to keep on planting if unceliainty in prices is ahead of him? We bring this thought bearing in mind the rice industry. There is an insistent public opinion that to insure a regular supply of rice for Manila and rice deficient provinces-the NARIC should be revived. With the NARIC, the question of what should be the government price for palay and rice will naturally arise. We are advancing the suggestion that in fairness to the farmers, and in the interest of stable prices for farm products, the government in determining the price for palay should take into consideration the cost of production and the prices of essential commodities that fa~· mers buy during the current crop year. The present crop to be harvested beginning this November was planted in May, June, and July. The greatest part of the expenses in the production of the present crop was incurred during the months of April, May, June and July. This crop will be sold in December, January, February, March, April and May when, in accordance with present trend in prices, we may reach the pre-war level. It must also be remembered that for three years since the outbreak of World War II the farmers had been the greatest sufferers. The fanns were ravaged by war operations, work animals and livestock were exterminated, farm buildings and implements were destroyed: cropa were commandeered or storen-the farms and farmers truly need to. be rehabilitated. Shall these items not be considered in fixing the government price 'for palay? AB this issue goes to press, rice growers must have already ·on hand . authentic data as to the cost of production of this coming crop. This information from actual farm operation records should be useful to the government in determining the reasonable price of palay. The price of three pesos for one cavan of palay paid :by the PCAU authorities to palay procured last April and May was outrageously out of· proportion to production cost. It was arbitrary and unfortunately, l;letrimental to the farmers' welfare. We hope the rice grow~i:s will be gj.ven a better deal this coming harvest. 82 Our Rural Problems And Our Journal WE take our first bow to the vul>lic, conscious of. our responsibility to the most important problwi of the country, namely Ag1-icultural Rehabilitation. It is om· pwr· vose to devote our resources a.nd facilities in cooperation with all concerned to attain the objectives of Agricidforal Rehabilitation 1vithin the shortest possible time. It i.s· <i havvy sign that the farmers are getting organized, that the·y may cooverate effectively in the na.tional task for after all thi.s concerns their welfare. It is essen-tial thfft there be a clear and full understanding of the scove of reh((bilitation ll11d we venture to indictate here in an outline form the fu11dame11t(!/ problems confrnnting the rural districts toda11. 1. E:,,tnblishm ent of peace m;d order in the n1.n1l districts ,oo that the farmers fo lhe rnnotest barrfo may enjoy absolute secu,·ity of life and prnperty in the pursuit of their calling. 2. Extension of war relief for rehabilitation of farmers. S. Extension of credit at low interest for reconstruction of farms, purchase of equipments, work animals and seeds. 4. Establish11umt of stable farni p1·ices. 5. Development of adequate facilities of transportation, warehousing and distribution. 6. Procurement and di.stribution of breeding stock of the best strain of hogs, poulfry, and wm·k animals to sveedily bidld up the needed animal population. 7. hnvrovements of socio-economic conditions and educational opportunities in the 1-ural di.stricts to muke the barrios and voblaciones equally attractive for living a.~ the city. 8. Increased production per hectare, through the use of high yield- . ing strains, intensive cropping and efficient farm practices. 9. Encouragement of improved nutrition for the masses so that 'f:he nation win have bigger fan·1n&1·s, more vigorous farmers and .longer living farmers. While many of these need;s will have to be wo1·ked out by the GoveN11ment; the farmers should as• sume the major responsibility of initiating the wo1·k of improvements . and 01·ganizim,g their ;pwn resource.~ to meet the itrgent need of ea1·ly rehabilitation.

pages

32

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