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the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

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326Governmental C<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>sDesigning a nati<strong>on</strong>alwheat programThe present wheat developmentprogram comes under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> PhilippineCouncil <strong>for</strong> Agricultural ResourcesResearch Development (PCARRD). Ithas an ad hoc interagency structure,with each of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six membersc<strong>on</strong>ducting specialized and more or lessindependent projects. The objective of<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wheat management committee ofPCARRD is to elevate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present wheatprogram, now in its third year, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>nati<strong>on</strong>al level. As a nati<strong>on</strong>al program, itshould gain more support <strong>for</strong> attainingindustry status. This proposal is nowunder c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> (5).Streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ninginteragency coordinati<strong>on</strong>Cooperati<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agenciesworking <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wheat program shouldbe streng<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ned, particularly in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>expansi<strong>on</strong> of commercial projects.Priority research is now focused <strong>on</strong> fieldproblems being encountered byfarmers.Financing wheat farmersand providing crop insuranceCrop loans and insurance should beprovided to wheat farmers.Arrangements are being made with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Technical Board of Agricultural Credit(TBAC) of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central Bank and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Philippine Crop Insurance Corporati<strong>on</strong>(PCIC) as part of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed nati<strong>on</strong>alwheat program.The hope of developing a local wheatindustry hinges <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expansi<strong>on</strong> of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>present program. To a large extent, italso depends <strong>on</strong> world issues affecting<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commodity. The Philippines atpresent is bracing itself against anec<strong>on</strong>omic crisis. Wheat imports, whichin 1982 al<strong>on</strong>e reached 900,000 t<strong>on</strong>sworth US$ 156 milli<strong>on</strong>, are now beingdrastically cut to reduce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>for</strong>eignexchange drain (4). Now is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time torevive <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> old, lost wheat industry.References1. Cabafios, J.B. 1960. Progress report<strong>on</strong> trial cultures of wheat withcooperators in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Philippines.Araneta Journal of Agriculture7(1):36-39.2. Cruz, E.E. 1960. The work of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Bureau of Plant Industry <strong>on</strong> Wheat.Araneta Journal of Agriculture7(1):40-42.3. Gir<strong>on</strong>iere, P. de. 1962. Twentyyears in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Philippines. FilipinianaBook Guild I. P. 221.4. Nati<strong>on</strong>al Food Authority. 1984.Briefing materials. Quez<strong>on</strong> City,Metro Manila, Philippines.5. Philippine Council <strong>for</strong> Agricultureand Resources Research andDevelopment. 1984. Notes <strong>on</strong> wheatcrop year 1983-84. Los Bafios,Laguna, Philippines.

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