‘We must create an environment where farming is a respected and viable profession, where our farmlands are protected, and where our food security is never compromised.’
THE second quarter economic figures showed the often-underappreciated agriculture sector driving the 5.5% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the same quarter.
The agriculture sector delivered an impressive 5.7% performance, the highest in eight years and reversing the 3.2% contraction recorded in the same period last year.
This growth is a testament to the hard work of millions of Filipino farmers and a reminder of the sector’s foundational role in our nation’s progress.
This also underscores a fundamental truth of economic history – no country has ever achieved sustainable development without a strong and thriving agricultural base.
Agriculture provides food security, a stable source of income for a large portion of the population, and raw materials for various industries.
It is the bedrock upon which industrialization and modernization are built.
The recent GDP figures serve as a powerful validation of this principle, demonstrating that a healthy agricultural sector is not a relic of the past but a prerequisite for future prosperity.
However, a closer look at the situation reveals that while we have much to celebrate, there is still significant work to be done.
The government must seize this moment to address the persistent challenges that threaten to undermine this progress.
One of the most pressing issues is the need to attract more young Filipinos to farming.
The average age of our farmers — 57 to 59 years old– continues to rise, and the younger generation often views agriculture as a difficult, unglamorous, and unprofitable profession.
To reverse this trend, we must invest in modern farming technologies, provide access to affordable credit, and create robust market linkages that ensure fair prices for farmers’ produce.
We must rebrand agriculture from a subsistence activity into a modern, tech-savvy, and financially rewarding career.
Furthermore, we cannot ignore the alarming trend of converting large tracts of fertile farmlands for commercial and residential use.
Between 1988 and 2016, a total of 97,593 hectares of agricultural land—the size of Metro Manila and Cebu City—were converted to nonagricultural purposes, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform.
From 2003 to 2015, Bulacan province alone shed 19,000 hectares of agricultural lands through land conversion.
Cavite also bore the brunt of rapid land conversion, especially in Imus, whose agricultural lands shrank from 1,684 hectares in 2011 to 1,071 hectares in 2016.
Imus was seeing abundant harvests in 2015, with production increasing by 209.45% until land developers descended and production nosedived to 64.08% and has never recovered since.
While urbanization and development are necessary for economic growth, they must not come at the expense of our food security.
The conversion of agricultural land diminishes our capacity to produce food, makes us more dependent on imports, and displaces farming communities.
The government must implement and strictly enforce policies that protect prime agricultural lands from conversion.
This includes offering incentives to landowners to keep their land in production and developing a comprehensive land-use plan that balances the needs of housing and industry with the imperative of food production.
The robust growth in agriculture in Q2 is a powerful signal that with the right support, our agricultural sector can not only recover but thrive, driving our entire economy forward.
We must create an environment where farming is a respected and viable profession, where our farmlands are protected, and where our food security is never compromised.
The bounty of the second quarter is a call to action and a reminder that our prosperous future is rooted in the very soil we stand on.
