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Panay peasants observe World Food Day with a protest rally
by PAMANGGAS
Monday, Oct. 18, 2004 at 8:42 PM
fifailo@yahoo.com
A picture of the mobilization in Iloilo City last October 15.
world_food_day_pamanggas4.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
More than a thousand farmers and other sectoral groups all over Panay joined the nationwide mobilization last October 15 commemorating World Food Day. According to PAMANGGAS, the Panay-wide alliance of peasant organizations, it is much fitting to call this day as World Foodless Day as farmers continue to suffer hunger and sickness.
Farmers in the provinces of Panay and Guimaras live on a measly income of PhP8.50 per day. Case study data showed that the cost of production per hectare of riceland rose PhP10,000 to PhP18,000 since 1990. It is estimated that the average income loss of the farmer is PhP1,321.00 per cropping season in the last 14 years.
Pamanggas lambasted the goverment's food coupon proposal. Pamanggas said that the food crisis is a result of the prevailing landlordism in Panay island. Morethan 60% of the farmers in Panay island have inadequate or do not have lands to till. NSO 2002 reports shows that the Department of Agrarian Reform-Iloilo has no record of land distribution since 1997. Though there are records of land conversions which even the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics-Region 6 recognized as one of the factors why rice production in the region declined.
Pamanggas also cited lack of government subsidy and the control of agrochemical TNCs as reasons for the food crisis.
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