The planet’s most intense storm this year first unleashed its fury in the Philippines before it rammed into Hong Kong in September. Typhoon Ompong (international code name Mangkhut) crossed Northern Luzon and ravaged provinces considered as the country’s major producers of rice and corn. Heavy rains and floods brought about by Ompong destroyed more than P27 billion worth of rice and corn crops in Northern Luzon.
The havoc wreaked by Ompong on the rice sector prompted the Department of Agriculture (DA) to revise downward its projection for palay output this year. The destruction of rice crops has also forced the government to increase its purchases of the staple from neighboring Southeast Asian countries. But even before Northern Luzon could recover from Ompong, Typhoon Rosita (international code name Yutu) hit the region in October and laid to waste some P2 billion worth of crops.
Most of the 20 or so typhoons that visit the Philippines every year cross the island of Luzon, where rice and corn—the country’s staple grains—are produced. Provinces in Northern Luzon are major producers of corn and vegetables, while Central Luzon is known as the country’s rice granary. But these regions lie in the path of typhoons that usually enter the Philippine area of responsibility in July to September. Not all typhoons are destructive, but the country has been experiencing strong storms in recent years due to climate change.
For years, experts have been urging the government to develop Mindanao and realize its potential as the country’s food basket. The region’s reputation was based on the fact that the southern part of the country is practically insulated from strong typhoons. The availability of contiguous lands also makes Mindanao an ideal area for food production. Local and foreign firms that export high-value crops favor Mindanao due to its climate and topography.
Experts have cited the peace and order situation in Mindanao as a major obstacle to the full development of the region’s agricultural sector. But this will soon improve with the possible ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The set up of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will usher in a new era in Mindanao and the government should jump-start Mindanao’s march to progress by empowering its agricultural sector.
Mindanao is replete with examples of successful agribusiness ventures. Major exporters of high-value crops, such as Dole and Sumifru, provide lessons that the region’s farmers could adopt. These firms observe so-called Good Agricultural Practices, which importing countries require before they allow the entry of Philippine vegetables and fruits in their markets. The government may consider tapping these firms as “big brothers” to Mindanao farmers who wish to venture into food exports.
The success of big agribusiness ventures in a turbulent region speaks volumes about the potential of Mindanao to feed the entire country and improve farmers’ incomes. If this is done, the government will not have to spend billions of pesos just to help farmers in typhoon-prone areas recover from the devastation of natural disasters year after year. What the government can save from rehabilitation efforts would be spent to develop areas where other cash crops, such as cacao and rubber, can be grown. Climate-proofing the Philippine agriculture sector is a desirable strategy, but identifying the right areas where food can be grown all year round makes more economic sense.