‘Fragmentation, individualism make Philippine agriculture uncompetitive’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine agriculture sector remains uncompetitive as farmlands are fragmented and local farmers continue to be individualistic, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“First, our farmers remain individualistic, unorganized and thus are not linked directly to markets. Second, our farmlands are small and fragmented,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“The saving-link is to organize them into cooperatives, and thereafter consolidate and cluster their farms to attain economies of scale, and thus be competitive,” he said.

The DA plans to consolidate and cluster farms and fishing grounds under its new thrust called Bayanihan sa Agrikultura (BayanAgri) and assist farmers in partnering with big businesses.

“We will also teach and arm them with modern and innovative technologies to increase their productivity and incomes,” Dar said.

“Once organized we will help them avail of needed credit for their working capital so they will not be forced to borrow from traders. Like this rice harvest season, traders are taking advantage of our farmers as they are heavily indebted to them, thus dictating low buying price for their palay,” he said.

The redesigned food security development framework of the DA will come into play in the new normal, particularly in empowering farmers and fishers to be competitive.

A new program that the DA is pursuing toward attaining food security is the establishment of agri-industrial business corridors (ABCs), which are aimed at tapping and unleashing the potential of rural communities to produce and contribute to national development.

The country’s first ABC will be set up at the New Clark Green City.

“Building an economic corridor in Subic-Clark will serve as a magnet to attract investors, while at the same time promote farmers’ cooperativism,” Dar said.

The planned ABC will serve as a hub and integrate smallholder farmers and fishers by providing them access to resources, including state-of-the-art production technology, capital, and value-adding facilities.

With the development of more ABCs in other conducive areas in the country, the DA is encouraging the private sector to invest and engage in rural industries.