The agriculture sector took a huge toll due to COVID-19, which led to its collapse. The main reason why it’s in a ruinous state isn’t even because of COVID-19; it's because of what happened during the crisis. It was inevitable that the many employers and politicians handling agriculture in the Philippines would take advantage of the situation.
In the event that they had any chance of committing corruption, some pocketed the budget allotted for support in the countries' agriculture sector, others took time embezzling, and if we look at the big picture, they even had the audacity to scheme behind the eyes of the Filipino citizens. All of these led up to now when inflation has plagued our economy and successfully ruined the backbone of the country, which is the agriculture sector of the Philippines.
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The Four Flaws of Agriculture In The Philippines
1.) Seventy percent of the poor in the
Philippines live in rural areas, where farming and fishing are the primary
sources of income. When, in fact, THEY are the ones who should own and earn the
most. As obvious as it may be, these Filipino workers are classified as having
the "lowest-paying job" in the Philippines. Such a fact is what
constitutes the country’s poverty—the wilting of the agricultural prowess we
once had.
Why do Filipino agricultural workers remain among the poorest in our society?
Seeing
it firsthand from farmers who farm on land that isn’t theirs is a sight that is
truly awful. Aside from having their crops subject to natural phenomena,
another primary reason they suffer would be their position as
"farmers." In the Philippines, farmers are dependent on tenancy,
where they’re at the feet of their proprietors, enclosed in a never-ending
cycle of debt and slavery. However, this isn’t even the last of it; one of the
many reasons why farmers have a hard life is the increase in everything they
need due to the liberalization of agriculture in the country. The removal of
state control over agriculture meant that farmers would be borrowing money just
to buy their needed resources, which, in turn, would leave them in debt and
poor again and again.
2.) Compared to the Philippines' industry and services, the country’s agriculture has produced the least amount of increase in areas of productivity and income over the years. The progress in terms of our productivity in agriculture doesn’t even amount to half of the corresponding productivity growth rates of our neighboring countries. In fact, our productivity growth rate only increases at an average of 0.7 percent, which is growing annually, taking into consideration how we even barely improved back in the 1990s. The Philippines is known for its long history of amassing knowledge and experience in agriculture, yet ironically, we’re facing such predicaments as one who’s supposed to specialize in this field.
3.) It seems that the current administration has done worse for agriculture in the Philippines compared to the last one. Basing off of the data from the Labor Force Surveys, from 2004 to 2009, total farm employment increased by around 698,000 workers. Whereas, from 2010 to 2015, it fell by more than 756,000 workers. To put it into perspective, the growth of the service has improved to 6.6 percent from 6.2 while the industry growth increased to 7.4 percent, which is more than twice that of the 4 percent back in 2004 to 2009. So how about agriculture growth? Its annual growth rate has averaged 1.3 percent over the last six years, which is less than half of the previous six-year growth rate of 3.2 percent. The current administration has seen what they’re capable of for the industry and service growth of the Philippines. It is now the time for them to do the same for our agriculture, which is in dire need of attention.
The Philippines' Agriculture Economy: Why is it important to the growth of the country?
4.) Last, but not least, is the most obvious flaw of them all, and that would be the never-changing corruption. From the small sectors to the bigger ones, here in the Philippines, they’re all just money-making businesses for those that manage these sectors in the government. Sadly, one of the most tainted by these immoral deeds would be the agricultural sector of the country. Despite the prosecutions and protests regarding these issues, it seems that nothing has changed from the past. Ever since it started, these money grabbers haven’t stopped pillaging funds that are meant for the growth and development of our agriculture. Indeed, it is enraging to think that instead of our agriculture still being the backbone of our country, it is continuously being ruined as these so-called politicians endorse projects meant for our agriculture only to pocket money and scam us, Filipino citizens. Will it ever change, or will it forever be like this? And for those who are gravely affected by this, will there be enough hope for them to even hope for? The question remains unanswered.References:
Habito, C. F. (2016, February 16). Agriculture: the top priority | Inquirer Opinion. INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/92923/agriculture-the-top-priority
Juanico, M. B. (2023, February 6). What now, Department of Agriculture? | Inquirer Opinion. INQUIRER.Net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/160842/what-now-department-of-agriculture
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