Mr Hettel says:
PAJ has been conducting the Binhi Awards since 1978… to recognize the continuing efforts of Philippine print and broadcast journalists for their reportage on the major developments and issues in the country’s agriculture, fisheries, environment, food and agribusiness sectors.
As agriculturist & the 1970s originator of the Binhi Awards, I am looking at these 2 as major developments: Farmer Poverty and Climate Change. And they are interrelated and have the same cause: Chemical Agriculture (CA). John Lynch et al say CA contributes 21-37% of annual greenhouse gases (GHGs) (03 Feb 2021, Frontiers, “Agriculture's Contribution To Climate Change And Role In Mitigation Is Distinct From Predominantly Fossil CO2-Emitting Sectors,” Frontiers, frontiersin.org).
21-37% GHGs from agriculture is major!
Now then, I beg the Binhi Awards people to encourage Philippine journalists to be relevant to the needs of the times by rewarding Climate Change journalism with higher honors – and higher cash prizes.
That would mean journalism concentrating on Organic Agriculture that contributes zero to Climate Change.
As it is: Aggie journalism is hardly journaling modern farming systems and technologies.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) should now produce the knowledge library for the “Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture” (OpAPA), which was proposed by former Secretary of Agriculture William Dar in 2003 yet when he was still Director General of ICRISAT, based in India, sister institute of IRRI.
The OpAPA Knowledge Bank should be user-friendly – like, on the laptop the journalist simply types “hybrid rice” (with/without the double quotes), and press Enter, the OpAPA screen will show images and/or icon-links to varieties of hybrid rice (HR) available, as well as icon-links to all of these: advantages of HR over inbred rice (IR), costs & returns comparisons, technology options & advantages…
Instant data & information! I call the knowledge bank “Rice Rich Rewards” (“The 3 Rs”) – name enhancing the fact that farmers (and other Filipinos) cannot live on rice alone! Farmers have to grow other crops such as vegetables, even poultry and/or livestock.
(Laptop image from knowledge-hub.com)
“The 3 Rs” being user-friendly, any journalist or farmer can tap one’s laptop anytime anywhere for science & technology in rice-based farming systems. Initially in English, “The 3 Rs” will be understandable by high schoolers who can then interpret for their parents.
Why “The 3 Rs?” We need to spread more in-depth knowledge in agriculture. We cannot blame our new & young President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr who keeps mentioning his election promise of “P20/kg rice.” I don’t want him to rise & fall on rice!
Now, we must convince the DA and SMC to fully finance “The 3 Rs” to bring information & insights to the fingertips of Filipinos anywhere anytime.@517
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