Feeding the World Amidst Climate Change

Transcription

1 2016/FSMM/003 Session 2 Feeding the World Amidst Climate Change Purpose: Information Submitted by: Philippines Food Security Ministerial Meeting Piura, Peru September 2016

2 Prepare, Adapt or Die! FEEDING THE WORLD AMID CLIMATE CHANGE EMMANUEL F. PIÑOL Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Philippines The Philippines is one of the countries in the world considered most vulnerable to natural disasters and illeffects of Climate Change. 1

3 UNPREDICTABLE TOMORROW Climate change has rendered unpredictable everything in agriculture, not only in the Philippines but elsewhere in the world. The first rain which marks the start of the rainy season in the Philippines no longer comes in May as it has been for ages. LIFE IN TYPHOON S PATH Typhoons and tropical storms are common to Filipinos. In 2015, ten typhoons hit the country, 6 of which were destructive. Nobody, however, was prepared for the cruelty and viciousness Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people and billions of dollars worth of property loss. 2

4 The Price of Unpreparedness In 2015, even before the country could recover from Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, another equally devastating climatic phenomenon, El Niño, ravaged the farm lands of the country and affected even the fish catch. Three farmers were killed in a rally while demanding for rice from government. Endless disasters As if that is not enough, the Philippines now is threatened by another climatic phenomenon, La Niña, whose expected heavy rains could destroy farmers crops and prevent fishermen from going out to sea. 3

5 CLIMATE CHANGE THREAT REAL One of the major grains producing provinces of the country, Isabela, reported that an estimated $20-M worth of agricultural crops was damaged because of a dry spell. The irony of this is that the dry spell came in the middle of the monsoon season in the Philippines when rains would drench the ricefields. READING NATURE S SIGNS Ignoring nature s warning and signs of times could be deadly and catastrophic. We, in the Philippines have realized this and we are sharing our tragic lessons to warn the world as well. 4

6 FAULT ENTIRELY OURS Nature is not to be solely to be blamed for the woes of our country. Corruption, lack of direction and absence of forward-looking strategies in agriculture were among the main culprits. 5

7 FUNDAMENTAL POLICY CHANGES 1. Dependence on imported food items must end. Food Independence is the battle cry. Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are the targets. 2. Agriculture and Environment must go together like husband and wife whose marriage is made in heaven. FUNDAMENTAL POLICY CHANGES 3. Establishing a buffer stock of food good for six months a national target. 4. Studies on Filipinos eating habits must be made to ensure that staple food options are identified as the population grows to a point where the land resource could no longer supply the food requirements. 6

8 IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES 1. Coordinative links between agencies and stakeholders involved in food production; 2. Identification of vulnerable areas and projected production losses; IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES 3. Implementation of a comprehensive insurance program for agriculture and fisheries; 4. Optimization of production in non-threatened/less vulnerable areas; 7

9 IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES 5. Reduce possible losses in vulnerable areas through the identification of alternative cropping strategies and livelihood; 6. Information dissemination including advisory services using an Android phone apps allowing farmers and fishermen to have access to the Dept. of Agriculture s 24/7 answering desk. MESSAGE TO THE WORLD The threat of Climate Change is real. The stability of the world s food supply is at risk unless nations work together to address the problem. 8

10 DWINDLING FISH CATCH With the warming of the oceans, fish catch has dwindled over the years. Protection, preservation and prudent utilization of resources a must. UNRELIABLE FOOD SUPPLY Climate change and unpredictable weather conditions have affected the productivity of the land. In time, the reliability of the land and the ocean as the source of food may be affected. 9

11 GROWING POPULATION With the world s food requirement increasing by 50% in about 40 years as the population increases by 1.2% annually, the threat of food shortage is real. WHAT MUST BE DONE 1. Advanced technology, modernization and mechanization program to maximize productivity must be introduced. 10

12 PROMOTE FOOD INDEPENDENCE 2. Communities in high risk areas must be urged to achieve food sufficiency and independence. Storage facilities for buffer stocks must be established using the proverbial Noah s Ark model. APEC BIG BROTHERS 3. APEC Big Brothers, especially those who have the technology and the resources, must lead the way in preparing for the effects of Climate Change. Agriculture, as we know it now, must be reshaped and retooled to address new eating habits. 11

13 PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE 4. The world is at the crossroads. Mother Earth s capacity to feed the growing population is at breaking point. How do we feed the future generation? How do we produce food? Where would food come from? APEC must lead the way in preparing for the future. By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail Benjamin Franklin 12

14 THANK YOU! Lake Venado, Mt. Apo, North Cotabato, Philippines 13