Philippine Agricultural Slowdown

By Aaron Testado

We are once a rice bowl of Asia who taught our Asian counterpart how to propagate different kinds of rice and now we are lagging behind. According to the Manila Bulletin, Wed. December 2, 2009 edition, our Asian Counterpart is ready to give us a rice boost. Well this is good because they are ready to supply us rice for our hungry people. In my insights we are capable to feed ourselves on our own arable land, our country just need proper technology and government assistance for farmers. Our farmers are lagging behind because of high prices of siblings and seeds excluding the “abono” fertilizers. Some of our farmers are not farming their own land; it either they are sharing or their own land is in the mortgage because life in the rural area are difficult. The government must develop a proper market for produce of our local farmers, because they cannot keep up with international prices as they are not capable to produce bulk supply. Our Agricultural Industry needs proper logistics supply from government like machineries and vehicles for farming.

Some people in our government are happy to import rice from other country because of the incentives or profit they can make from the transaction. But then they don’t think how many people will suffer from hunger or even die from the said transaction, for them money satisfies all their needs disregarding economic pride of our country and the losses of thousands of our farmers. Selfishness and inhumane agenda of these individuals in our government put us all in future havoc, economically and even politically. For me they should be hang in public places or stand on a firing squad, for the justice of our farmers who suffer decades of slavery and inhumane treatment.

Political dynasty is one the problem in the Agricultural Industry because most of this dynasty are corrupt, thus the capability of our farmers to grow is halted by this corruption. Every 2 or 3 years we are hit by strong typhoons coming from Pacific Ocean or even South China Sea, when farmers struck by this typhoons they are in need of financial support from their respective governors and congressman but sadly on 15% of help being drawn to them sometimes nothing. They are lucky if the International communities are concern and focus on the news that they will receive 35% of help from the government and other country. Most of the financial help are being put in the pocket of some individuals in power, and thus result on slowing down of prosperity from the side of the Agricultural Industry. Large entities in the Agri market are being subject for more government incentives financially and politically, but Small entities of farmers are being subject for mostly financial slavery. Thus this is why some are being drawn to join the communist and fight for their rights and will result for more government headache.

From the Spanish rule up to this day our LOCAL FARMERS are still slaves of their LANDLORDS and until now that we have our own government, still they are lagging behind; still they suffer from maltreatment.

Squatters are all over our metropolitan areas because the farming communities in the rural are coming in the urban area to search for better pastures. That for them being at Manila is like a dream come true. Having 150 pesos – 350 pesos (about $3 - $7) a day job is good than earn 30 pesos – 90 pesos (about a Cent – $ 1.40 ) a day from their Landlords in the rural and provinces. Labor laws in the Philippines are not properly implemented even in the rural areas that such an incident on Salary cannot be address by the government because of lack of funds. Philippines is a developing country as far as the international communities are concern but for me Philippines are going to collapse sooner or later because our country cannot address the needs of small entities in our society as the bigger (Rich ones) ones in the government are getting bigger (Richer). The people someday will realize that enough is enough for these kinds of treatment.

I Love my country, I love to visit the North – Western Provinces of Luzon as the roads are properly pave and the farming land is being properly watered by big dams. Although poverty is still rampant you can easily say that the farmers are contented by just looking in their small farms and rice paddy. People there are hospitable, happy, religious and courteous. Political dynasties still exist over there but Politician there still has heart to give help for their people. They have also bad habits but as far as people are concern; people are happy because basic services are being implemented immediately.  (Includes Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain province and Baguio.)

On the other side which includes Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley and Apari. The condition basic transportation and communication facilities are very bad “OUTRAGEOUS” Roads are muddy and you can see different sizes of stones, you will not imagine that you are in the present century. It’s like you are in the time of the Late George Washington or Jose Rizal maybe. People there are lacking schools and colleges, illiterate individuals are rampant and that is very sad they are subject for fraud and maltreatment. The saddest part of this 95% of them are farmers, they need support from our government as far as I am concern. The land lords mostly in control of the farming areas because some farmers are being fraud by these land lords. People there also suffers political violence because of different clans are fighting for Power even in the Local village election, vote buying still rampant everywhere and everyone knows it including me. Who will stand on gunpoint to prevent this not even me, Illegal firearms are still everywhere, the communist still in operation in different areas. It’s a beautiful place out there but sadly no improvements on their living because of these problems.

When will be the time that the Greedy People stop Being Greedy!? When will be the time that Dynastic rule will be eliminated in our country. I will pray for that time to come soon…..