While the government gropes for a definition of the country’s rice situation (is there or isn’t there a shortage?), development organizations have long been advocating steps precisely to pre-empt a rice crisis. Foremost among these initiatives is organic agriculture.

Organic agriculture has consistently enjoyed strong backing from non-government organizations (NGOs), but government has been slow to support these efforts, preferring instead to fund the propagation of hybrid rice.

In response to the country’s rice situation, AgricultureSecretary Arthur Yap asked Filipinos to reduce rice wastage. "The solution is not without merit, but it is short-term and stands as a dwarf against a gigantic problem," said Jerry Pacturan, executive director of the Philippine Development Assistance Program (PDAP), a supporter of organic agriculture with a partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to develop the industries of organic rice and sugar.

"PDAP’s efforts on organic rice offer a more strategic, long-term, and holistic approach to the country’s rice situation," Pacturan said.

Maria Helenita Ruizo-Gamela, president of Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, Inc., a PDAP partner, commented that, "The rice shortage confronting us is expected and has long been coming. Preparations should have been under way long ago."

Ruizo-Gamela cited as factors leading to the rice shortage the increasing population of rice eaters, decreasing land area devoted to rice production, and decreasing productivity of croplands devoted to rice.

"If these are the factors to rice shortage, then the reduction of rice wastage is a superficial solution," she said.

Ruizo-Gamela said a long-term solution requires addressing the three major reasons mentioned.

"Much success can be achieved in a short time by addressing the productivity of rice lands, and this is where organic farming comes in."

How can rice lands be revived? "Not through a Rice Master Plan hinged on heavy application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides," she added. "These are the culprits for 40 years of decreasing soil productivity, rendering the country’s soil resource base imbalanced if not downright dead."

Ruizo-Gamela said that Green Revolution technology, which is heavily dependent on chemical inputs, has "increased soil pH level, annihilated beneficial microorganisms which produce natural enzymes and antibiotics for disease resistance, decreased soil aeration, eroded soil, and diminished organic matter, micro and macro-nutrients, among other harmful effects."

"We need to rehabilitate the soil resource base and this can be done only through sustainable organic agriculture," she added.

Ruizo-Gamela said she based her position on experience. "The farmer-partners of Don Bosco Foundation now enjoy increased productivity of their rice land after their dead soil was rejuvenated by a range of methods, none of which used a single drop of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Soil pH is slowly decreasing, water holding capacity improved, Cation Exchange Capacity increased along with organic matter, micro and macronutrients. A healthy soil base is creating agro-ecosystem health and balance above the soil. Our rice crops are more resilient and resistant to drought and require less water."

Ruizo-Gamela said that the organic rice of Don Bosco Foundation is yielding more than hybrid varieties. "Our highest yield was 125 bags from one hectare of irrigated rice at an average weight of 65 kg., or more than eight tons from one hectare," she reported. The average yield of hybrid rice is six to 6.5 tons per hectare, according to a 2002 report by the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Ruizo-Gamela said she hoped that the documented success of organic rice can convince government to rethink its policies. "Organic agriculture should be supported with research and development on methods and technologies, rice seeds adaptability, pest and disease resistance, resilience, and systems yield potential. In the same way that hybrid and genetically engineered seeds are supported by the government through subsidies, organic agriculture, especially rice production, should enjoy the same if not more support from the state."

"Sustainable organic and biodynamic agriculture may be our last chance, not only for the country but for our planet," she concluded.