The Situation of Agriculture in the Philippines

PART II

Globalization

“This globalization worsen the situation of local agriculture, all of our agricultural products including the raw materials are being exported as raw materials because we don’t have the industry, even the big foreign companies are not creating industries for us to be at least semi-profit oriented.” said Cosico.

Cosico mentioned that the Philippine government adopted international trade policies but does not support the development of local industries.

“We can see from the past administration that they are not interested in developing our own local industries, even if we have an agricultural economy.” said Cosico.  

Cosico gave a concrete example with the rice industry during 1979. The Philippines had a chance to export rice crops but it was disrupted when President Ramos signed an agreement with World Trade Organization (WTO) which resulted for the country to be import dependent and export oriented. 

The country continued to export raw materials and semi-process materials due to under develop manufacturing systems and became a constant dumpsite of the finished product by the industrialized countries which results to entombment of the local industry.

Cosico stated that our economy is more open to foreign countries instead of cultivating our own industry.

“We are semi-colonial, semi-feudal. Our agriculture is based on dictates of the capitalist countries.” said Cosico.

Agricultural Courses

“There’s an irony here, there are so many Asians and Filipinos students who were trained here but where are they now?” said Cosico.

Cosico mentioned that during the her time, during the 90s there are numerous students who are willing to take up Agricultural courses but most of the graduates are under private companies, individually speaking it benefits the employee however it does not help the agricultural development of the Philippines.

“If you will count on our government, what will you expect? They cannot offer jobs and opportunities or employment for the agricultural graduates therefore graduates will just accept those offers from the foreign investors” Cosico added.

Cosico added the country has sufficient human resources that the Filipinos can use to develop the agricultural state but there is no hope with our government. Most of the professionals leave the country which led to “brain drain”.

Cosico confirmed that Agricultural courses nowadays are not popular to the students and the course became remote and detested.

“Some agricultural schools are being shut down because they cannot maintain their operating cost, no enrollees, and no funds from the government” said Cosico.

She affirmed that if the government is serious about the development of the Agricultural industry in the Philippines, it should have concrete arrangement in education.

“The situation is depressing, cause we are a dying course, we are a dying profession” said Cosico.

SOURCES:

Sharmaine Villanueva, Intern/Journalist of BULATLAT

Finesa Cosico, 36, An Agriculturist and Project and Extension Officer of AGHAM