The issue of shortage in rice is indeed a very pressing issue these days. Many say that it can be attributed to the hoarding of some unscrupulous businessmen. Economists and agriculturists are exhausting all their resources to attend to this particular issue.
One aspect left in abeyance is the issue of environmental sustainability and how it affects rice production. For my very first entry, I would like to tackle the issue of environmental neglect and elevate the discussion on how it affects many Filipinos. Environmental neglect does not only affect the physical well-being of Filipinos, it also manifests how this neglect could lead to a very serious problem - the shortage in the staple food of Filipinos.
Many farmlands are now being converted to industrial lands. Not only that industrialization contributes most to polluting the environment, it also lessens the land the may be used to plant rice hence, shortage in rice production.
I was asked by a famous law professor from the law school whose business is to teach law in the grand manner whether it is better to stop industrialization and mentioned that industrialization yields to more profit. I conceded that industrialization is necessary but we should rechannel resources in alleviating environmental conditions as well. He then asked, "What about trade? Haven't you heard of comparative advantage?" I replied that trade and comparative advantage have no bearing in this issue for all the countries who are exporting rice are suffering from shortage as well and are attending to their domestic needs first. What is the point of having too much purchsing power if we do not have the products to cast our peso votes to.
Mother Nature provides everything for us - shelter, food, clothing. It is our utmost responsibility as stewards of the environment to care for Mother Nature. Our neglect of the environment had led to the destruction of our shelters. Now, it is leading to the shortage of our food. Let us act now.
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