agriculture philippines essay

PHILIPPINES: Vibrant Agriculture is Key to Faster Recovery and Poverty Reduction

MANILA, September 9, 2020 — Transforming Philippine agriculture into a dynamic, high-growth sector is essential for the country to speed up recovery, poverty reduction and inclusive growth, according to the latest report released by the World Bank.

Titled “ Transforming Philippine Agriculture During Covid-19 and Beyond ,” the report says that transforming the country’s farming and food systems is even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure strong food value chains, affordable and nutritious food, and a vibrant rural economy.

"Modernizing the country’s agricultural sector is a very important agenda for the Philippines,” said Ndiame Diop, World Bank Country Director Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. “With the exception of a few small natural resource-rich countries, no country has successfully transitioned from middle- to high-income status without having achieved an effective transformation of their agri-food systems. Transforming agriculture and food systems is always challenging. But the country’s new vision for agriculture, it’s current thrust for diversification and use of modern technologies, and its effective management of food supply during this pandemic clearly indicate that the country is well-equipped to overcome the challenge.”

“Our vision is a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said. “Realizing this vision will require dedicated efforts among major agri-fishery industry stakeholders, led by the Department of Agriculture, to continuously empower farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural entrepreneurs, and the private sector to increase agricultural productivity and profitability, taking into account sustainability and resilience.”

The report, which was prepared as part of World Bank support to the Department of Agriculture’s “new thinking” in agricultural development, suggests shifting away from a heavy focus on specific crops towards improving the overall resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of the rural sector.

In the past, spending has gone mostly toward price supports for selected crops and goods, as well as subsidies on inputs such as fertilizer, planting materials, and machines. Global experience shows that while ensuring the availability of key inputs remain important, reorienting significant public spending toward investments in public goods—including research and development (R&D), infrastructure, innovation systems, market information systems, and biosecurity systems—results in faster poverty reduction and greater productivity gains through an overall modernization of agriculture.

The report says that small farmers have difficulty accessing inputs and markets for their produce, while buyers such as agribusiness enterprises and wholesalers find it difficult to get the quantity and quality of produce that they need for processing on a timely basis. Government support can help overcome this market failure by bringing together buyers and producer organizations and providing support for the preparation and implementation of profitable business plans that benefit both parties.

In situations where farmers need support to help them access markets and improve their livelihood, or when compensation measures are needed for farmers affected by trade policies such as the rice liberalization in the Philippines, direct cash payments or cash transfers can be a better option, as practiced in many countries like Turkey, European Union, and the US, says the report. These direct payments have many advantages, such as giving farmers more choices and encouraging private sector development in upstream (inputs and agricultural services) and downstream (processing, marketing) markets, thereby helping farmers connect to these markets and opportunities.

The report says that interventions like farm consolidation (including cooperative farming schemes for instance), better extension services, e-commerce, and investments in agribusiness start-ups can further advance modernization of Philippine agriculture.

“These paradigm shifts will be crucial to meet the emerging domestic and global market opportunities, while creating jobs, raising farmer incomes and ensuring the food security needs of the country and meeting the new challenges of climate change,” said Dina Umali-Deininger, World Bank Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food for East Asia and the Pacific.

World Bank's support to the Philippines includes long-running programs aiming to raise agricultural productivity and reduce poverty in rural communities. A current example of this is the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) which aims to help increase rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity.

Several projects are in the pipeline to help raise agricultural productivity, resiliency and access to markets of farmers and fisherfolk in selected ancestral domains in Mindanao and improve management of coastal fishery resources in selected coastal communities.

FULL REPORT: Transforming Philippine Agriculture during COVID-19
Opening Remarks by Country Director Nidame Diop

January 4, 2022

Organic agriculture in the Philippines: What you need to know

What is Organic Agriculture?

This farming practice relies on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than on the use of inputs that turn out adverse effects (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)).

It is under the umbrella of sustainable agriculture but not a subset.

Compared with conventional farming, this practice is still in its emergent phase and has been steadily growing by 10% to 20% annually since 2000 according to USDA.

The Philippines started to recognize the importance of this farming practice in 2005 as seen in the passage of the Republic Act 10068 or the Promotion and Development of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines, which provided government support to this sector. This was followed by the passage of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2008 that increased the popularity of organic agriculture in the country.

Organic products and their rising popularity

DOST-PCAARRD noted that there is a small but rapidly increasing market for organic produce. Due to the pandemic, the demand for organic products increases as people opt for a healthier lifestyle, including food options that are chemical/pesticide-free (vegetables and fruits) and antibiotic-free/naturally raised (livestock animals).

In a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight, 32% of the 14,859 respondents from the Philippines said that they “sometimes buy organic food products.” This survey also revealed that people tend to buy organic because they perceive it to be healthier than non-organic foods.

Frequency of purchasing organic food in the Philippines.

An article from Business Mirror also mentioned that the demand for organically produced food is becoming a trend for i nvestments in the Philippines, Indonesia, and China.

Should farms go organic?

Organic farming requires complex and expensive certifications. Despite its emerging popularity, the Philippines has a low number of certified organic operators (85 as of July 2019) which can be attributed to three factors: high certification costs, strict soil amendments, and expensive fertilizer trials. Organic farms need to be certified for as much as PHP70,000 per year; conduct soil testing that has a cap or limit of 5–10% for nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K); and conduct fertilizer trials (Experimental use Permit) which allows fertilizer to be tested on each crop to identify which is best suited for the crops. Certification such as the Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture (PNSOA) is complex and expensive for small-income farmers and farm owners. Aside from complex certification requirements, the sustainability to feed the entire population is uncertain.

Certified organic food is generally more expensive than conventional counterparts. Here are some reasons as explained by FAO:

Limited supply and distribution of organic products is inefficient (usually in small volumes).
Production cost is higher due to higher labor inputs which is generally higher per unit of output.
Post-harvest handling is also in small batches and they are segregated from conventional produce during processing and transportation.
Pasture-based animal production where animal welfare is top priority.
Safe handling of pesticides to avoid health risk to farmers
Rural development that provides additional employment for farmers and income to producers.
Avoid pollution.

Can organic farms feed the entire population while mitigating the effects of climate change ? Steve Savage, a plant pathologist and agriculture expert wrote an article that explains why organic farms are not enough to feed the entire population and that it is a “terrible option from a climate change perspective.”

According to Steve and as mentioned in this brief, organic yield (in grains and vegetable crops) is lower compared to conventional yield. The 2016 data from the United States, the biggest producer of organic outputs, suggested that the only crop category that produced higher in organic farms were forage crops (crops for grazing animals). Only sweet potato among other vegetable crops exhibits higher yield in organic farms.

The data also suggested that the United States needed 100 million more acres of agricultural land— impossible to acquire— to produce the output standardly produced (through conventional farming and other farming practices) to feed its population. To make this possible, forest and grassland will need conversion which will result in a major release of sequestered carbon contrary to other claims that conversion to organic agriculture is the solution of the sector to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Organic farms have lower yield, especially in transition farms or farms that previously had “dead soil” and will be turned to “living soil” through organic farming. Dead soils tend to have slower build up of humus or organic matter.

A study revealed that from a global perspective, the yield of an organic farm is 25–50% lower than conventional farming practices due to lack of availability of supply of manure . There is a low supply of biomass, a substrate for fertilizer production that comes from manure, agricultural residues (such as rice straw and hull, coconut husk, fronds), and municipal solid waste. In 2019, the estimated manure production is at 94 million tons per year based on the 5 ton per hectare application rate. This can cover 19 million hectares of farms, however, only advanced countries have a 90–95% success rate. Consequently, not all agricultural residues and municipal solid waste can be used as fertilizer.

In 2015, the country had 234,000 hectares of organic production area catering to the export market. The majority of the organic farm produce has been coming from coconut products which are exported to the international market including the United States (58.5%) and Japan and Korea (32.8%). Coconut water from the Philippines has a 100% increase in sales and is expected to continue to prosper in the next coming years.

In 2017, the Philippines ranked fifth in the world among the highest organic producers at 166,000 (Fig. 1).

What organic farms should do

Yield in organic farming is comparable to conventional farming according to PCAARRD . Given the right genotype and management. The following are the expert’s recommendations to maximize yield in organic agriculture:

Take advantage of the organic export market as an international market. Organic farms should prioritize international markets (who are willing to pay more).
Use organic varieties that are best suited for organic farming. Do not use conventional varieties instead of organic varieties.
Maximize the use of available organic fertilizers found in farmers’ farms.
Shorten the supply chain by linking organic farmers to consumers to maximize income.

Organic vs Conventional Agriculture

The essential difference between sustainable and conventional agriculture is the use of fertilizer and the provision of plant nutrition. Conventional farming uses chemicals as fertilizers to fight pests and weeds and provide plant nutrition while sustainable agriculture uses biodiversity and composting.

Compared to sustainable agriculture that maximizes farm inputs, this uses synthetic or chemical fertilizers to maximize the yield of crops that are often genetically modified.

Why do farmers opt for chemical fertilizers?

Synthetic fertilizers have a lot of benefits including:

Convenient to use since it can be easily applied to soil as granules, powder, or liquid concentrate.
An accurate formulation that provides the right amount of nutrients needed by the crop.
Longer life compared with organic fertilizers.
Immediate release of nutrients into the soil avoids nutrient deficiency in crops.

Organic vs conventional fertilizers: impacts on the environment

Agriculture Profile

The Philippines is an agricultural country with 30 million hectares of land area, 47% of which is designated for agriculture. The major crop in the country are rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane banana, pineapple, coffee, mango, tobacco, and abaca ( Climate Smart Agriculture in the Philippines )

Food and Fertilizer Technology for ASEAN and Pacific Region (FFTC-AP ) reported that this sector accounted for 13% of the total GDP from 1998 to 2009 but has steadily declined to 10% in 2017. However, its gross value added (GVA) in constant price has been growing the same year which means that agriculture is not declining in absolute size. Its declining contribution to GDP is due to structural transformation growth as industry and services grew much faster thereby accounting for increasing contribution to the growing economy.

The country’s GDP in agriculture is low considering the number of workforce relying on this sector as employment (30%). This suggests that structural transformation is slow and productivity is lower compared to other sectors.

The Philippine government aimed for higher productivity by 2013 and targeted an annual growth rate of 5% in crops, 2% in livestock, 5% in poultry, and 3% in fisheries. Both poultry and livestock achieved their targets, while crops and fisheries productivity declined due to natural calamities, extreme weather conditions, and closed fishing season in some areas in 2016.

Effects of climate change on agricultural productivity

2020 World Risk Report (WRR) revealed that the Philippines ranked 9 th in the world as the most affected country from extreme weather events (Table 1).

Table 1. List of countries with high exposure to natural hazards.

Due to its geographical location, the country is prone to extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones disrupting agricultural productivity and food security, and sufficiency in the country. ( Climate-resilient Agriculture Philippines )

According to the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028 , from 1990-2006, Php 12.43 billion worth of damage to agriculture was brought by typhoons (70.3%), drought (17.9%), and floods (5%) (Fig. 1). The damage and loss brought by typhoon Ondoy alone to farmers reached US$ 849 million or Php 40.8 billion in 2009. The annual estimated damage by the typhoon to the agricultural sector is at PHP 136 million.

The International Center for Agriculture presented challenges for the Philippine agricultural sector in the next 30 years:

The growing population estimated to reach 150 million by 2050
Aging farmers (average age of Filipino farmer is 57) who tends to veer away from innovations and new technologies;
changing dietary preferences of the country’s growing population;
decreasing arable land, increasing intensification of farmland with chemical fertilizers
lacking farm-to-market roads and processing facilities;
Lacking agricultural research and development (R&D) to support advancement and innovations

Compost- created from the aerobic decomposition of many materials usually considered waste, including food scraps, animal manures, leaves, straw, and more. Composting occurs when carbon-rich materials (“browns”), like straw and leaves, are mixed with nitrogen-rich materials (“greens”), like food scraps and manure ( rodalleinsitute.org ).

Green manure- plants that are grown to provide soil cover and to improve the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil. GMCCs may be sown independently or in association with crop (FAO).

References:

DA-AMIA. 2017. Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Philippines. CSA Country Profiles for Asia Series. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); Department of Agriculture – Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture, Government of the Philippines. Manila, Philippines. 24 pCli

BusinessMirror. (2021, September 23). ADB: Organic food a boon for SEA. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/09/23/adb-organic-food-a-boon-for-sea/

DOST-PCAARRD. (2021). Forum Proceedings: Organic and Inorganic Agriculture. Https://Elibrary.Pcaarrd.Dost.Gov.Ph/Slims. Retrieved December 2021, from https://elibrary.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/slims

Entine, J. (2019, October 11). Viewpoint: Don’t buy organic food if you want to increase farm yields or seriously address climate change. Genetic Literacy Project.

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/10/07/viewpoint-dont-buy-organic-food-if-you-want-to-seriously-address-climate-change/

Mahirang, R., Dela Cruz, R., & Villareal, R. (Eds.). (2011). How Sustainable Is Organic Agriculture In The Philippines? (Vol. 33, Issue 2).

https://www.nast.ph/images/pdf%20files/Publications/NAST%20Transactions/NAST%202011%20Transactions%20Volume%2033%20Issue%20No.%202/4%20How%20Sustainable%20is%20Organic%20Agriculture%20in%20the%20Phils%20Rodel%20G.%20Maghirang%20et%20al.pdf

Organic Agriculture: Why is organic food more expensive than conventional food? (n.d.). FAO. Retrieved December 2021, from https://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq5/en/

R.A. No. 10068. (2010). Https://Lawphil.Net/Statutes/Repacts/Ra2010/Ra_10068_2010.Html. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10068_2010.html

Soil Health. (2020, September 29). Rodale Institute. Retrieved December 2021, from https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-practices/soil-health/

Statista. (2021, November 26). Frequency of purchasing organic food Philippines 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009473/philippines-frequency-of-purchasing-organic-food/

World Risk Index 2021. (2020). Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department House of Representatives.

https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/images/PDF%20Attachments/Facts%20in%20Figures/FF2021-20_World_Risk_Index_2020.pdf

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Transforming Philippine Agriculture: During Covid-19 and Beyond (June 2020)

Attachments.

Preview of Transforming-Philippine-Agriculture-During-COVID-19-and-Beyond.pdf

MANILA, September 9, 2020--- Transforming Philippine agriculture into a dynamic, high-growth sector is essential for the country to speed up recovery, poverty reduction and inclusive growth, according to the latest report released by the World Bank.

Titled " Transforming Philippine Agriculture During Covid-19 and Beyond ," the report says that transforming the country's farming and food systems is even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure strong food value chains, affordable and nutritious food, and a vibrant rural economy.

"Modernizing the country's agricultural sector is a very important agenda for the Philippines," said Ndiame Diop, World Bank Country Director Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. "With the exception of a few small natural resource-rich countries, no country has successfully transitioned from middle- to high-income status without having achieved an effective transformation of their agri-food systems. Transforming agriculture and food systems is always challenging. But the country's new vision for agriculture, it's current thrust for diversification and use of modern technologies, and its effective management of food supply during this pandemic clearly indicate that the country is well-equipped to overcome the challenge."

"Our vision is a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said. "Realizing this vision will require dedicated efforts among major agri-fishery industry stakeholders, led by the Department of Agriculture, to continuously empower farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural entrepreneurs, and the private sector to increase agricultural productivity and profitability, taking into account sustainability and resilience."

The report, which was prepared as part of World Bank support to the Department of Agriculture's "new thinking" in agricultural development, suggests shifting away from a heavy focus on specific crops towards improving the overall resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of the rural sector.

In the past, spending has gone mostly toward price supports for selected crops and goods, as well as subsidies on inputs such as fertilizer, planting materials, and machines. Global experience shows that while ensuring the availability of key inputs remain important, reorienting significant public spending toward investments in public goods---including research and development (R&D), infrastructure, innovation systems, market information systems, and biosecurity systems---results in faster poverty reduction and greater productivity gains through an overall modernization of agriculture.

"These paradigm shifts will be crucial to meet the emerging domestic and global market opportunities, while creating jobs, raising farmer incomes and ensuring the food security needs of the country and meeting the new challenges of climate change," said Dina Umali-Deininger, World Bank Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food for East Asia and the Pacific.

PRESS RELEASE NO: 2020/04/PH

David Llorito

[email protected]

DSWD DROMIC Report #13 on the Effects of El Niño as of 28 March 2024, 6PM

Dswd dromic report #12 on the effects of el niño as of 27 march 2024, 6pm, dswd dromic report #11 on the effects of el niño as of 26 march 2024, 6pm, dswd dromic report #10 on the effects of el niño as of 26 march 2024, 6am.

Publication: Transforming Philippine Agriculture: During COVID-19 and Beyond

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Facing the big challenges in Philippine Agriculture

As the Philippines dealt with the ‘perfect storm’ – the COVID-19 pandemic, African Swine Fever (ASF), and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war – agriculture is among the sectors to receive the hardest blow, feeling every inch of strain, horrifying the entire food system altogether. The Department of Agriculture (DA), under the leadership of outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, left no stone unturned to lessen, if not totally eradicate, the devastating impacts that are rippling out beyond borders and across societies, further increasing indignant instability.

While the country is slowly going back to its normalcy after battling the COVID-19 pandemic for more than two years now, the current health crisis continues to dampen global goods trade, amplifying job and income losses of most middle- and low income Filipinos. At the onset of the crisis, food supply chains were shackled, imposing restrictions on the movement of goods as well as people. These protection measures resulted to food price inflation, further increasing hunger and poverty incidences.

The DA acted upon this with urgency, employing measures to cushion the impact of the pandemic to the already ailing Filipinos. The Department wasted no time in restructuring its public funds and programs, allowing movement of agricultural goods, access to affordable food, providing protection and intervention to local farmers and fisherfolk, all for the assurance of food security.

Among the DA’s interventions include the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s access to credit and other financing programs and technical support, establishment of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, provision and distribution of farm inputs, equipment, and machineries, promotion of urban farming/gardening, among others, to keep the food production chain going.

The persistence of the ASF is still holding the country hostage, where the speed and severity of its damage has collapsed the hog industry. The DA took strides to stop the spread of the ASF virus through precautionary culls while compensating local hog raisers. The DA distributed more than P2 billion as indemnification to affected swine farmers.

To prepare the country in transboundary animal diseases and its proliferation within Philippine borders, the DA has put in place stricter biosecurity control measures in tandem with the Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs, and the local government units (LGUs). According to the Secretary, this will be a common practice to prevent or at least minimize the future risks of transboundary animal diseases. The Department has also collaborated with public and private partners in the development of a vaccine against ASF – a first of its kind in the Philippines.

Secretary Dar said that the ASF vaccine’s initial trial from February 10 to May 6 in San Miguel, Bulacan, showed promising results. “In the trial, no clinical signs associated with ASF disease were observed and minimal non-ASF related mortality was posted,” the agri chief said.

Rice Tariffication Law (RTL)

The enactment of the RTL since 2019 is considered the crescendo of the Duterte administration. It has raised so many controversies, even accusing the DA to be anti-farmers.

Since the 80’s, restrictive trade and regulatory policies have stunted the growth of the country’s rice industry. For more than 30 years, the National Food Authority (NFA), whose monopoly power rests over imports and prices, dominated the rice market. As a result, Filipino consumers pay high prices of rice in the market, the government keeps on subsidizing NFA losses, while rice farmers remain poorest of the poor. It was in 2018 when a severe rice shortage became a major driver of inflation, rising by a factor of 10. With the Philippines being a rice-eating country, the effects were disheartening as rice is a basic household expenditure of every Filipino family, rich or poor.

The political will of President Duterte gave a massive turn to the rice sector, when he signed the RTL into law. Basically, this replaced rice import quantitative restrictions with tariffs.

This resulted to two major things: (1) rice is no longer a main contributor to inflation, benefitting millions of Filipino rice consumers as rice prices were made cheaper by an average of almost P7/kg., and (2) P10 B-fund to make rice farmers more competitive.

“The RTL has increased the purchasing power among the bottom 40 percent of the income groups due to the savings they gained from lower rice prices,” the agriculture chief said.

Moreover, with the inflow of tariffs, the government created a P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Under the RTL, all import duties collected from rice imports will be used for RCEF that will ultimately benefit Filipino rice farmers: provision of quality, certified seeds, farm machinery and equipment, financial support, and trainings.

Three years since the implementation of the RTL, the DA continues to see major accomplishments, making RTL truly a game changer in the agriculture sector. In fact, the record palay harvests for two consecutive years is proof of the success of the RTL.

“RTL has been instrumental in the increased productivity from 3.69 metric tons (MT) per hectare (ha) in 2019 to 4.03 MT/ha in 2021 wet season. This is about P5,100 per hectare increase at P15 per kilo gram of dry palay,” Secretary Dar said.

Ukraine-Russia War

While the country has only been slowly recovering from these crises, it took another disaster for the Philippines to plunge into another devastation – probably the greatest of them all – the Ukraine and Russia conflict.

This ongoing war has fueled food insecurity to the highest power.

Food insecurity is now inclined to be an even more threatening trend, with the two power countries at war being among the breadbaskets of the world. This means that export activities are challenged, putting other dependent countries vulnerable, including the Philippines.

The rising prices on energy, oil, fertilizer, wheat and wheat products, and add to that the export bans being imposed by other countries to “protect their own people” continue to put many countries at risk, especially the Philippines, who is reliant on these key producing countries to fill local production gap.

Needless to say, the Ukraine crisis accentuated the discrepancies and inequalities in food production, thus the humane necessity to fill the gap through importation.

In the most basic sense, importation is allowed for an economy to thrive – to supply nonexistence and scarcity of products and goods, reduce domestic food prices, and provide wider choice in consumer goods, to name a few. Agricultural trade does not only happen in the Philippines, rather it is a global phenomenon that helps stimulate economies.

“We continue to put premium on protecting our farmers and fishers. Our goal has always been geared toward food security, eventually leading to food sovereignty. We only allow imports to fill in the deficit or what we cannot produce locally,” the DA chief said.

“Even President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who included food sovereignty as one of his priority agenda, mentioned how importation is being forced on us simply because local production is not sufficient,” Secretary Dar added.

The woes of local production

Food production cannot keep up with the immense population growth.

The Philippines’ population expansion rate was estimated at 1.4 percent in 2019 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), while the agriculture sector grew by a measly 0.5 percent in late 2020. These figures clearly show the food-population imbalance, where the rapid rate growth of the population outpace the capacity to produce food.

While the measures to control population growth are implausible as of the moment, the government must focus on boosting local food production instead.

Secretary Dar continues to call upon the national government to increase the agriculture’s budget, proposing a P250 B allocation as the first, and most crucial step.

“If next year’s budget is not doubled or tripled, and it will be at the same level as the budget we have today, we will always have the same problem that we have had before,” the agri chief stressed.

To substantiate this campaign, the DA created the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP), a 10-year strategic plan focusing on a long-term vision of commodity industry and agricultural infrastructure development which will usher the sector towards food sovereignty.

The implementation of the agrarian reform has also induced a significant downfall in the local food production of the country. This reform caused fragmentation of farm lands, with farmers individually tending small parcels of land. On average, a farmer’s land ownership is at 1-3 hectares, which is not a sizable land area for big-shot commercial and industry development.

“Farmers’ land ownership ceiling must be significantly raised to 25 hectares, if we want an industrialized sector. If not, then we can act on it by consolidating these small farm plots, so that we can breed technology and innovation, including infrastructure and mechanization development which in turn will open doors for bigger markets, thus bigger incomes for our farmers,” Secretary Dar said.

Keeping the balance

Until the agriculture sector gets its fair share of public funding to make the dream of a food sovereign country happen, the DA will keep on working – despite its limitations – for the greater good of the Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.

While lands cannot be increased for farm use, and food production remains a challenge, the DA will continue to employ other efficient methods to provide food for every Filipino.

The OneDA Reform Agenda, Secretary Dar’s brainchild, has kept the agriculture sector afloat and resilient, amid the challenges for the past three years. Built on four pillars: Consolidation, Modernization, Industrialization, and Professionalization, the OneDA Reform Agenda’s ultimate goal is to modernize and industrialize Philippine agriculture, and in the long run make it a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

“It is a transformative strategy, capitalizing on technology, innovation, and the drive to make our farmers and fishers prosperous at the end of the day,” said Secretary Dar.

Once fully adopted and implemented, the OneDA Reform Agenda promises to make the Philippines a powerhouse in agriculture, at par with other ASEAN countries.

In its short years of execution, the OneDA Reform Agenda has birthed gains and breakthroughs, leaving a dent in the agricultural landscape of the Philippines. These include trade and export development, agri-industrial business corridors, youth engagement in agriculture, easy and affordable access of farmers and fishers to agri financing, private sector participation in agriculture as ‘big brothers,’ mechanization and infrastructure investments, and agriculture digitalization, among others.

“What works for now is our conscious unity to work towards the goal despite these myriad of challenges. We were able to showcase it through this perfect storm: the COVID-19 pandemic, the ASF, the birth pains of RTL, and now the Ukraine crisis. I assure you that the DA has been working to serve our farmers and fishers, and the rest of our fellow Filipinos. We take the lessons, we act on them, and hopefully, we realize a prosperous agriculture and fisheries,” Secretary Dar concluded. ### ( Daryl Lou Battad, DA-StratComms )

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[OPINION] Palaging pagod at palaging hirap: The story of the Philippine farmer

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[OPINION] Palaging pagod at palaging hirap: The story of the Philippine farmer

Our farmers struggle with a history of injustice. They have been forced to till land they do not own, sell their produce at prices unequal to their labor, and carry a whole sector on their already aching backs – for a country that has forgotten to listen to them properly. As our country strives to move forward, we have forgotten to bring its foundation along.

Our farmers have worked too hard to provide for their families and their countrymen, only for them to be continuously robbed by our government of adequate policy, support, and protection.

The past: Inadequate policy

It is peculiar how we brand ourselves as an “agricultural country” when we are largely dependent on imports for produce. Although there are campaigns to “support local,” the nature of these campaigns do not at all address the problem grounded in ineffective structural policies.

For over 30 years, the Philippine government has struggled to implement the land reform it has promised for redistributive welfare. Over time, the political impetus for this has reduced, evident in the diminishing budget allocation from 0.44% of our GDP in 1988-1991 to just 0.15% of our GDP in 2010-2016.

It seems that because agriculture is so overlooked and is thus not a winning election issue, our leaders have simply forgotten our farmers. This rippled into investments for a more competitive agricultural sector, but with bureaucracy resulting from poor implementation of agrarian reform in the way.

This is not an unfamiliar problem. In 2018, a group of farmers from Negros Occidental gathered in front of the gates of the Department of Agrarian Reform only for them to be turned away by the security guard, who told them: “ Wala pa si Secretary dito. Baka na-traffic .” One can only imagine how painful it is to be forgotten and rejected all over again.

This is but one instance in a long history of neglect. In 2012, Philippine farmers were the least mechanized in Southeast Asia, using only “the equivalent in power of a small electric fan per hectare of farmland,” leaving the rest to sheer manpower. It is upsetting to know that this full day’s work could have been made easier if our officials had fulfilled their promise of development.

Instead of executing more effective and sustainable policies (such as block farming), the Department of Agriculture has only given band-aid solutions to long-term problems — dole outs and insufficient capital for increased farming capacity. The sum of all these inadequacies and more trap our farmers into a life of “subsistence farming” – living from paycheck to paycheck, where one bad harvest season could mean starvation and poverty for their families. The problem is systemic and cyclical, and it demands a systematic solution.

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The present: Insufficient support

Our past agriculture problems are so grave, their impacts are still very much felt in the present. Let’s look at how people in authority have responded:

The most recent response to these problems was the Rice Tariffication Law, which promised a more competitive (and fairer) market and increased aid for our farmers. In 2019, Senator Villar said this was necessary to have affordable staple food, to increase our competitiveness in the global market, and to provide equipment to farmers through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

In 2020, farmers have yet to feel the support of the law. This is a concrete manifestation and continuation of inadequacy. With a low tariff of 35%, 3 million tons of rice were imported by big corporations within months of the law’s passing. This left our local supply homeless in our own country. Farmers were literally left with no choice but to sell rice for as low as 7 pesos a kilo, while corporations dominated huge commercial outlets.

Aside from these problems, the promise of mechanization and seed assistance from the RCEF is empty. This is possibly because the mechanisms for it were not even in place yet when the law was passed. Why does it feel like the plan is being made up as we go?

In response to the pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) allowed the passage of food products to and from Luzon to ease the weight of travel restrictions for farmers. However, they would need to present an IATF ID, which could only be acquired online. We are now confronted with these questions: What about those farmers who do not have access to the internet? What about those farmers who are not adept or familiar with the processes (and even with technology itself)? It feels as though being able to sell products for a living has become a privilege.

Upon reflection of the past and the present, the question has transformed from “Did the government do anything?” to “Is what the government doing enough? And more importantly, are these the proper and meaningful solutions?”

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The future: A call for protection

There have been obvious cries for help that have been met with violence: the Mendiola Massacre in 1987, the Hacienda Luisita Massacre in 2004, the Kidapawan Protests in 2016, and more. The “Bigas Hindi Bala” slogan is haunting only because it is too real. Not only have people in power excluded our farmers, but they have also killed them. In the name of human development, which comes with the promise of speed and efficiency, our farmers have been left out almost deliberately.

These stories of oppression continue (and even worsen) today. We have stood idly by for too long. Without the backbone of our economy and of Filipino life, the nation will collapse. Without meaningful improvements in our treatment of farmers, our country will continue to find itself stuck in cycles of oppression. It will be a long and slow process from here, nothing nearly as quick as what we’re accustomed to.

These are unprecedented times: of continuing widespread corruption, of weakly enforced government policies, and of people hoarding basic necessities. May we never overlook the reason we have these necessities in the first place, for a depressing irony exists: those who provide our basic needs have, for too long, not been afforded their own. – Rappler.com

Maeca Czarina Pansensoy is a BS-Management Honors student at Ateneo de Manila University. Although you can usually find her studying in a Starbucks branch along Katipunan, she’s now quarantined like everyone else – opening her eyes to realities outside of her laptop screen. She hopes to open your eyes as well.

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — Financial Crisis — Crisis In The Agriculture Sector In The Philippines

Crisis in The Agriculture Sector in The Philippines

Categories: Financial Crisis Philippines

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Published: Jan 28, 2021

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Essay on Philippines

Students are often asked to write an essay on Philippines in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Philippines

Geography of the philippines.

The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia. It is made up of over 7,000 islands. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Celebes Sea, and the Philippine Sea. The country’s capital is Manila.

Climate of the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical climate. It has two seasons: the rainy season from June to November, and the dry season from December to May. The country often experiences typhoons, especially during the rainy season.

People and Culture

The Philippines is known for its rich culture. The people are called Filipinos. They speak Filipino and English. The country is known for its festivals, music, and dance. Filipinos are also known for their hospitality.

Economy of the Philippines

The Philippines’ economy is growing. It is based on agriculture, industry, and services. The country is known for its production of rice, coconuts, and fish. It also has a booming tourism industry.

Wildlife in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to a wide range of wildlife. It has many unique animals like the Philippine eagle, tarsier, and the water buffalo. The country also has beautiful coral reefs that are home to many fish and other sea creatures.

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Paragraph on Philippines
Speech on Philippines

250 Words Essay on Philippines

Introduction to the philippines.

The Philippines is a beautiful Southeast Asian country. It is an archipelago, which means it’s made up of many islands. In fact, there are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines! The country is famous for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and friendly people.

Geography and Climate

The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ocean, near countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. The country has a tropical climate. This means it is warm all year round. Sometimes, the Philippines experiences typhoons, which are powerful storms.

Culture and People

Filipinos, the people of the Philippines, are known for their warm hospitality. They love to celebrate and have many festivals throughout the year. One of the biggest is Sinulog, a colorful event with music and dance. The main language is Filipino, but English is also widely spoken.

Food and Cuisine

Filipino food is a mix of many influences. Rice is a staple, often served with meat, vegetables, or seafood. A popular dish is adobo, which is meat marinated in vinegar and soy sauce.

Wildlife and Nature

The Philippines is home to many unique plants and animals. You can find tarsiers, small primates with big eyes, and the Philippine eagle, one of the largest eagles in the world. The country also has beautiful coral reefs, perfect for diving and snorkeling.

In conclusion, the Philippines is a fascinating country with a rich culture, diverse wildlife, and stunning landscapes. It’s a place full of adventure and beauty, waiting to be explored.

500 Words Essay on Philippines

The Philippines is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia. It is made up of more than 7,000 islands. These islands are home to many people and different types of plants and animals. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila. The country is known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and delicious food.

The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ocean, near the equator. This means it has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid all year round. The country is divided into three main parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon is the biggest island and it is where Manila, the capital city, is located. The country is surrounded by water and has many mountains, forests, and rivers.

Because the Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it has many volcanoes and experiences earthquakes. Despite these natural hazards, the Philippines is rich in natural resources like minerals, forests, and marine life.

The Philippines has a mix of different cultures because of its history. It was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, then it was ruled by the United States. Today, the Philippines is an independent country.

Filipinos are known for their hospitality and friendliness. They love to celebrate and have many festivals throughout the year. The official language is Filipino, but many people also speak English.

Food and Festivals

Filipino food is a mix of different flavors. Rice is a common food, often eaten with meat or fish. Some famous dishes include adobo, sinigang, and lechon.

The Philippines is also known for its colorful festivals. These festivals often include parades, dances, and lots of food. Some popular festivals are Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-Atihan in Aklan, and Pahiyas in Quezon.

The economy of the Philippines is growing. It is based on agriculture, manufacturing, and services. The country is one of the world’s biggest producers of coconuts, rice, and fish. Many Filipinos also work overseas and send money back to their families. This is a big part of the country’s income.

The Philippines is a country full of natural beauty, rich history, and friendly people. Its location and climate make it a unique place to live and visit. Despite the challenges it faces, the Philippines continues to grow and develop. It is a country that is proud of its culture and heritage.

In conclusion, the Philippines is a fascinating country with a lot to offer. Whether you’re interested in its geography, culture, food, or economy, there’s something for everyone to learn and enjoy.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Philippine Revolution
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