On March 21, 1989, former President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 22 that declared every month of May as Farmers and Fisherfolk month in the country to pay tribute to the farmers and fisherfolk that sustain the provision of food on the table for the Filipinos. While it is true that the Philippines is an archipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands, agriculture remains to be one of the major sources of livelihood of the people, especially those living in the rural communities because of the fertile soil that serves as an important factor in the production of crops that will be sold in other parts of the country and even exported to other countries.
In the early 1970s, the Philippines used to be the major exporter of rice to our neighboring Southeast Asian nations aside from serving as the benchmark of rice production because of the existence of the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) where most agriculturists from our neighboring countries studied the best ways to produce quality rice for local consumption and possible export to countries that need the said supply. Indeed, it was the golden era of our country’s agriculture sector because our existing researches were used by other countries as one of the bases in enhancing their rice production that led them to realize rice self-sufficiency over a certain period of time.
However, the country’s agriculture industry, especially rice production, continued to suffer a significant decline in terms of production which was a cause of concern among decision-makers and policy formulators in the bureaucracy. Every administration that took over the realm of government after the ratification of the 1987 Constitution committed to work to improve the status of the country’s agriculture sector but it seems that such efforts have virtually failed due to the fact that whatever programs, projects and activities that had been put in place were tainted with blatant interests by those who were heading the agriculture department that caused the eventual downfall of the supposed to be lucrative agriculture sector. Worst, the country lost its status in the international arena as one of the major exporters of rice but instead the situation was reversed where the Philippines is now actually the major importer of rice from our neighboring Southeast Asian nations which were our earlier clients.
What is ironic in the current situation of our agriculture industry is that government often resorts to importation of whatever agricultural products that do not have adequate supply or produce by our farmers and fisherfolks which often causes a serious negative impact to the state of the agriculture sector. Concerned agriculture industry stakeholders have time and again reiterated to the government that importation should not serve as a stop gap measure or a band aid solution to the problem on the inadequate supply of crops for our food but something drastic must be done to revolutionize the agriculture value chain to strike a balance between the demand and supply and to ensure sustainability of the country’s agriculture sector.
Obviously, the Philippines has been left behind in terms of preserving and protecting the state of its agriculture industry. Many of our neighboring Southeast Asian nations were able to advance in terms of agricultural production that allowed them to stabilize their food self-sufficiency. The future still remains bright for our agriculture sector but something must be done to be able to allow it to bounce back from the slump that it suffered over the past several decades.
We believe that an overhaul of our country’s existing policy on agriculture must be made. We should start revolutionizing the sector from seed selection, plant management, post-harvest facilities, mechanized operations among others for us to contribute in significantly improving production in the farms. There is also a need to improve on the packaging and marketing of the produce to conform with standards.
Our agriculture industry stakeholders must now learn to embrace new technologies in terms of seed selection, plant management, packaging, marketing among others for them to remain at par with the rapidly advancing state of agriculture in the global arena. Let us not wait for that time that we in the agriculture sector will become irrelevant because of our refusal to adhere to prevailing standards.
We believe that it is not yet too late for our country’s agriculture sector to gain headway in the international scene and regain its status as one of the major rice exporters. Changes must have to be put in place with the full cooperation of the involved stakeholders.
The upcoming preparation and serving of the paella ala Cordillera or the paella gigantes by concerned government agencies and agriculture industry stakeholders showcasing the flavors of the region will definitely serve as an eye opener to our policy and decision makers because we are doing it at a time that the country’s agriculture sector is hounded by various issues and concerns. Let us support the ongoing efforts to salute our farmers and fisherfolks who have painstakingly worked hard to ensure that we have our own food on the table.