“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Less action in the potentials of agriculture can be one of the most undesirable acts if not, an irresponsible one. The Philippines has a very significant document called Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028, “that serves as the government’s overall guide in development planning for six years. It reflects the government’s socioeconomic policies, strategies, and programs in support of and consistent with the development agenda geared towards the attainment of development goals and objectives in the long-term development plan.”
PDP’S AFF
The PDP for agriculture, forestry and fishery (AFF) on paper is best outlined in the hallmark document. It is composed of four major strategies preceded by an assessment that details the current state of Philippine agriculture, forestry and fishery. It also outlined its strategy framework, legislative agenda and foreseen results.
Also, enumerated in the document are agriculture’s alarming concerns and challenges such as low productivity, lack or low access to credit or capitalization, weak export and weak investment performance, vulnerability to multi-dimensional shocks which means the climate change increasing risks of the country and as one of the most calamity-prone countries in the world and the fragmentation of agricultural lands.
The more important concern however, with urgency is how are the strategies are being realized. What are its local and actual circumstances as far as its implementations are concerned? Major questions require solid and concrete answers in so far as the budget is concerned. The chapter 5 of the PDP under the present dispensation of power is entitled Modernized Agriculture and Agri-business.
POLICY UN-CONNECTIVITY AND INCONSISTENCIES
In the light of the challenges we face and agriculture being one our economic cornerstones it is very evident that our major stakeholders especially the government – its officials, agencies and other instrumentalities lack the synergy to address these major and immediate concerns.
Our policies simply do not jibe with the needs on the ground and while most of them are recognized policy makers are constantly fond of their “politics” that more often than not, the need of the few are put ahead come hell or high water than those of the national interest.
Simple manifestation of this is the budget allocation approved by legislators in the two years. The agriculture department only comes 10th with a “measly” budget with a little over Php100 billion. While recognizing the important role of education, infrastructure and local governance but the difference to agriculture is a head-scratcher.
FARM TO TABLE APPROACH
Modernization of agriculture and agribusiness is a larger than life concern for the 40-50% Filipinos whose main source of existing and survival depend on the supply chain of every product. From production to marketing the challenges enumerated above must be addressed with a no nonsense commitment not merely on paper and policy guidelines but, most importantly the pertinent needs of production – appropriate technology and capital to market access making our Filipinos farmers equipped in agri-business.
Filipino farmers must move forward in a much larger scale and the way to do it is making them evolve from mere producers to product processors, consolidators and marketers who have market niche and leverages of their own products. Major and other products with potentials for agri-businesses must be consolidated, developed and regenerated. Not only does this evolution address the economy but, at the same time, it is responsive to the challenge of hunger and poverty. The major problem of weak investment identified in PDP must start from this premise. Agriculture may be an integral element of economy but it should not only be profit-driven but equally important it addresses social ills.
The real essence of “cooperativism” overcoming organizational conflicts is best encouraged as well. The highest form of an organization by principle is a cooperative and we have more than enough lessons to draw from this.
ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE
Local government has a solid official receipt than their national counterparts because they are grounded. The mandates of LGUs are highly reflected in the communities with proper and timely guidance according to the will of chief executives and the support system.
In Negros, the provincial government earmarks more than Php3 billion in the next 3 years. Governor Laccson’s banner slogan Abanse Negrense highlights agriculture to give importance and priority to our farmers in recognition that farming their economic and social foundation. Negros Occidental has more than half of its population dependent on agriculture.*
