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THE MANILA TIMES

Over the last decade, Philippine agriculture grew by 2 to 2.5 percent, which is not enough as the country's economy from 2023 to prior to the pandemic grew by an average of 6 percent annually.

One of the reasons is that the cultivation of rice, corn, and coconut uses up to 74 percent of the country's arable land, which has made farmers remain among the poorest of the poor. Other countries in Southeast Asia have diversified to production of other crops that can give farmers better earnings and access to the export market.

What are the factors that have led to the above or contributed to the current state of the country's agriculture sector? One of the most overlooked problems are fragmented and miniscule farmlands, preventing economies of scale. These fragmented lands also make it harder to mobilize farmers to implement climate resiliency measures, which must be made a priority by the government.

Non-time-bound protectionist policies also discourage innovation while a rice-centric budget for agriculture limits diversification in agriculture. Farmers, meanwhile, still have limited access to agricultural credit and insurance, and the current windows for those need to be expanded significantly.

To get Philippine agriculture to the next level or to make it resilient and globally competitive, the following can be undertaken:

– Make the provincial-led agriculture and fisheries extension systems (PAFES) work;

– accelerate farm clustering;

– enhance the establishment of farmers' cooperatives;

– elevate capacity-building for change agents and farmers/fishers;

– engage the youth;

– digitalize agriculture;

– enhance market linkages;

– scale-up the use of technologies;

– enhance the delivery of extension services;

– affordable and accessible credit;

– strengthen public-private partnerships;

– promote farm diversification;

– build a resilient agriculture;

– enhance rice production;

– establish agro-industrial business corridors; and

– push the One Town One Product (OTOP) initiative.

In making the PAFES work, the local chief executives should the primary "rowers" of the agricultural development process in their localities while the Department of Agriculture "steers" the course. The challenge here is how to make devolution a real tool for people empowerment and socioeconomic development.

For accelerating farm clustering, there is a need to promote and support land consolidation arrangements like block, contract, and corporative farming to achieve economies of scale and/or the reduction in the cost of production. Simultaneously, the incomes of farmers should increase. The private sector is also highly encouraged to practice clustering to bring about efficiency, innovation, and market linkages.

When it comes to organizing farmers, meanwhile, there is a need to enhance the establishment of farmers' cooperatives to promote collective strength, enhance bargaining power, and foster economic resilience within the agricultural community. It is also through cooperativism that farmers can pool resources, share knowledge, and access markets more effectively. A stronger cooperative movement will also foster a collaborative environment.

In elevating capacity-building for change agents and farmers/fishers, there is a need to provide up-to-date training and resources in areas such as modern farming techniques, climate-resilient practices, market analysis, and sustainable resource management. These will allow them to effectively transfer knowledge and empower farming communities.

Along with those, change agents and farmers/fishers should be encouraged to build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship so they can explore new market opportunities and value chains.

In engaging the youth in agriculture, meanwhile, the call is to make agriculture "sexy" and a promising career choice. This can be achieved by providing access to modern agricultural technologies, such as precision farming and smart irrigation systems – among the areas that are highly appealing to the tech-savvy younger generation.

The youth should also be shown the diverse and lucrative potential in agribusiness. They can also act as infomediaries or knowledge brokers and advocates in agriculture, leveraging their communication skills, digital literacy, and innovativeness.

And while digitalization is becoming a trend in the country, let us make sure that also finds its way into agriculture. By integrating advanced technologies into agriculture, farmers can improve productivity, optimize resource use, and enhance decision-making processes.

To achieve a comprehensive digital agriculture ecosystem, collaboration between governments, private sector companies, research institutions, academe, and farmers' organizations is essential. Let us also get ready to apply artificial intelligence in farming andfisheries.

On enhancing market linkages, the requirement is to establish farmer cooperatives or producer groups to consolidate farmers' output, enabling them to have more collective negotiating power. Building strong and strategic partnerships with private sector stakeholders, such as retailers, processors, and exporters, can also enhance market access.

For scaling up the use of technologies, priority should be given to investments in research, innovation, and infrastructure. Also, supportive policies and incentives can encourage the private sector to invest in developing and deploying agricultural technologies that are not limited to the digital sphere.

More importantly, farmers must be provided access to cutting-edge innovations so they can lower their cost of production using the best of technologies.

With so much technologyand innovation now available for agricultural producers to adopt, there is also a need to enhance the delivery of extension services including the setting up of demo farms with the DA and the government taking the lead.

Extension services play a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge, providing technical assistance, and promoting best practices. Demo farms, meanwhile, can serve as learning hubs. Also, partnerships can provide technical expertise, funding, and access to the latest innovations.

To make farmers and cooperatives more productive, they should be given access to affordable and accessible credit. This can be attained by strengthening rural financial institutions and expanding their reach.

The government must also intervene in the management of risks and design of appropriate financial products and services tailored to farmers' needs. This can include flexible repayment schedules that align with farmers' cash flow cycles and seasonal income patterns. Specialized agricultural credit programs, digital financial solutions, and the like can also be offered.

Getting the private sector involved in agricultural development is also essential, hence the need to strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs). Through PPPs, cutting-edge technologies and innovations canbe introduced to the agriculture sector especially those from the private sector.

Also, the private sector can make additional investments to support infrastructure development, technology adoption, and value chain strengthening that will ultimately benefit farmers, fishers and the entire agricultural ecosystem.

Farmers and fishers can be made part of the value chain system of private companies. One good example of a PPP initiative forging partnerships between clustered farmers and major food and agribusiness companies is the Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program of Go Negosyo.

Diversification, meanwhile, happens to be one of the most overlooked strategies to protect farmers from price and market instability, weather events and calamities, and pests and diseases. By diversifying output, farmers spread their risks, ensuring sustained production and income. Farm diversification can also enhance soil health and contribute to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

Resilient agriculture should also be pursued through the adoption of climate-smart systems and components such as drought-resistant crops, efficient water management, and soil conservation techniques, among others. Practices like agroforestry, crop rotation, balanced fertilization, and conservation help maintain soil fertility, prevent erosion, and preserve ecosystem services.

Regenerative agriculture is also a case in point as it focuses on restoring and enhancing natural ecosystems, improving soil health, promoting efficient water management, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Much of those mentioned to attain a greener type of agriculture must be applied to increase rice production to attain higher productivity. Also, the alternate wetting and drying technology for rice can help manage water use and reduce methane emissions while increasing yield.

The balanced fertilization strategy must also be pursued in rice production for better yield, optimal nutrient uptake, and enhanced crop resilience. The use of high quality inbred and hybrid seeds can also increase the yield of rice farms.

More agro-industrial business corridors (ABCs) can be established to integrate elements of the agricultural value chain, agribusinesses, and supporting industries within a geographical area. The objective is to create synergies to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.

The establishment of ABCs requires effective PPPs, supportive policies, and investments in infrastructure and capacity building. A hub-and-spokes model can also be created to facilitate the aggregation and processing of agricultural products for local and global markets.

In promoting the OTOP approach, lastly, the government and private sector must promote products that enhance market visibility and consumer awareness and increase demand and consumption. OTOP also aims to promote value addition, local heritage, and strengthen community identity. Furthermore, the OTOP approach enhancescompetitiveness and opens export opportunities.

Philippine agriculture has a lot of promise when it comes to contributing to the country's overall growth and alleviating poverty. Also, a stronger and globally competitive agriculture sector can help ensure food security for the country, especially during these times.