There is money in agriculture

Our country is, undoubtedly, rich in natural resources. In fact, China (despite its vast land area) has to impose its presence and throw its weight into a very tiny Scarborough Shoal (apparently, within our territory) not because of the group of islets’ size but of its value.

Despite these God-bestowed gifts, however, we’ve remained poor. Truth to tell, of the country’s population, save for a handful of middle class and a pinch of those whom we call the elite, 90% of the rest maybe considered as the socialites among mendicants. The remaining 10% of the unfortunates are simply referred to as “beggars”, “mendicants” or “panhandlers”.

Consequently, when crisis looms, we are severely hit. Crushed and mangled, all accusing fingers are pointed to one direction – poverty. Making matters worse is our propensity to focus on poverty at face value not its roots. Naturally, whatever initiatives we try to implement could not even put a tiny dent in its surface. Sarcastically, in our solitude, we can even wonder if all these acts are deliberate and are just orchestrated. The possibility that our politicians are not seriously considering any solution to free them (the poor) from bondage would, in fact, even be a big truth. After all, having poverty makes it handy for them to have a platform in every election – poverty alleviation.

It is a fact that those in dire need come from the agriculture sector. That’s a no-brainer.  For one, one-third of the country’s workforce are in this sector. Yet, it only contributes 11% to our economy. Simply put, this sector is so inefficient. Sadly, some even left their farms and tried their luck in the urban areas. Consequently, they squeeze themselves into the slums and pad the number of informal settlers in the major cities.

Soon, if left unchecked, these numbers will worsen. For one, as the land distribution through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) continues, more and more beneficiaries will soon leave their abode. This is not surprising at all. Yes, through the CARP, the partitioning and turnover of several humongous properties to the beneficiaries are well settled. What is unsettling is the diversity and to some extent, stupidity, of some beneficiaries.  Foolishly, some of them have unequivocally declared that they shall put their lots on lease.  Then, at the same time enroll in the 4Ps program, the conditional cash transfer program.   Therefore, at best, the program beneficiaries will just lease their lands out and collect rental annually. Then, either stay in the urban areas or live in the rural areas like pensioners.

Supposedly, in trying to empower them by owning the lands they till, they will not only free themselves out of poverty, they shall be able help this country attain food security. On the contrary, however, instead of helping this country be self-sufficient, we are continuing to subsidize this program. All these years, the beneficiaries have continued to behave like slaves when in fact, money-wise, this government had already spent a lot to free them. Worse, they’ve started acting like mendicants by raking in billions in annual subsidy.

To recall, sometime in 2011, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture have forged an alliance to help farmers and fishermen develop their businesses.   Whether it is still working as it was envisioned until today, we do not know. What is imperative though is for this government to support this program continuously.

Through this Agribusiness Center, other line agencies should get involved and help equip these beneficiaries with sound entrepreneurial skills by taking a more holistic and comprehensive approach. We should develop successful new farmers by providing them experience-based production and sound business-management training.

Such training must include among others, concerns in production, business, ecology and environment. Training on production should include planting, harvesting, irrigation system, livestock, etc. Business trainings must include marketing, finances, budgeting, etc. To ensure success, this government must also provide the necessary infrastructure, such as, irrigation, storage facilities, transport equipment, packing and processing facilities, of course, for a fee.

Done well, only then shall we be able to let them know that there is money in agriculture.