Agriculture for development

Rain-fed agriculture has been the basis for food production in the country for hundreds of years. Agriculture provides jobs and supports tens of thousands of families, or almost one half of our labor force.

Food is more expensive here than in many parts of Southeast Asia. Moreover, the Filipino farmer is handicapped by the lack of basic facilities such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation networks, post-harvest facilities, fishing ports and access to basic credit.

To me, agriculture and rural development is the best and most cost-effective weapon against poverty.

Recently, the World Bank called for agriculture to take center stage in development policies and pledged to boost its lending to the sector after allowing it to decline in 1980s and 1990s. Every dollar worth of improvement in a country's gross domestic product that is agriculture-driven is four times more effective in reducing poverty than is GDP growth originating in other sectors.

It will be an illusion to think that the poor will simply be absorbed by growth taking place outside agriculture. Poverty is highly-rural – the farmers, fisher folk and coconut planters are among the poorest in the country.

Agriculture is the foundation of modern China, which first built up its agriculture sector before developing its industrial base. The Philippines' biggest mistake is underspending in agriculture, hence the persistent poverty across the country, especially the countryside.

In three years, Philippine population will grow to about 100 million, and we have to find ways to feed all of them. This poses a great challenge to our agriculture sector.

Working to increase the country's wealth without adequate focus on agriculture will be like running a treadmill – it takes so much effort but it doesn't get you anywhere.