Overview of Agri development in the Philippines

Summary

The presentation highlights the current state of agriculture in the Philippines, emphasizing its crucial role in poverty alleviation and food security despite its decline in economic significance. It discusses challenges such as low productivity, lack of diversification, and climate impacts, and contrasts the country's performance with its Southeast Asian neighbors. The script advocates for modernization, industrialization, consolidation, and infrastructure development as part of a new paradigm to revitalize the sector, with cooperatives playing a pivotal role in leveraging technology and e-commerce for small farmers and fisherfolk.

Takeaways

• 🌾 Agriculture in the Philippines is crucial for economic progress, despite no longer being the primary economic driver.
• 📉 The poverty rate among farmers remains high at 32%, indicating a need for improved living standards in agricultural households.
• 📊 Agriculture employs over a quarter of the country's workforce but only contributes 9% to the GDP, suggesting low productivity.
• 🥦 The Philippines is largely self-sufficient in certain food staples, such as cassava, sweet potato, and various fish species.
• 📉 Agricultural growth has slowed compared to other countries, with the sector's performance declining since the 1980s.
• 🌱 The dominance of traditional crops has limited diversification, while high-value crops like soy, cacao, and abaca remain minor players.
• 🐟 Fisheries output has been on a downward trend due to climate factors and overfishing, impacting food security.
• 🌍 The country has failed to capitalize on the export market, lagging behind Southeast Asian neighbors in agricultural exports.
• 💰 Government spending on agriculture has been high but has not translated into significant outcomes or infrastructure improvements.
• 🔗 The Sagip Saka Act promotes farmer and fisherfolk enterprises, aiming to foster clustering, consolidation, and private sector partnerships.
• 🛠️ The 'new thinking' in agriculture includes eight paradigms focusing on modernization, industrialization, consolidation, infrastructure development, and policy reforms to enhance the sector's performance.

Q & A

What is the current role of agriculture in the Philippines' economy?

Agriculture is no longer the big economic mover it once was, but it remains key to enabling economic progress for everyone in the Philippines.

What was the percentage of the poor in the Philippines in 2018, and how does it compare to farmers?

In 2018, the share of the poor in the population was down to 17%, but for farmers, it was still 32%.

How significant is agriculture in terms of employment in the Philippines?

Over a quarter of the workers in the country were employed in agriculture as of April 2020.

What is the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP of the Philippines in 2020?

The agriculture sector produced only 9% of the GDP in 2020.

What are the main food sources for Filipinos, and how self-sufficient is the country in these areas?

Local farms and fisheries are the source of most of the food needs of Filipinos. The country is completely self-sufficient in cassava, sweet potato, milkfish, and tilapia, and nearly so for galunggong.

How has the growth of Philippine agriculture compared to other countries?

Philippine agriculture has fallen behind those of other countries. It was doing well in the 60s and 70s but slowed in the 1980s and slumped again in the 2010s.

Which sector within agriculture in the Philippines has grown faster than average up to 2019?

Poultry has grown faster than average within the agriculture sector up to 2019.

What is the main reason for the below-average growth rate of crops in the Philippines?

One reason for the below-average growth rate of crops is the lack of diversification, with the same five traditional crops dominating the cropped area over the past 50 years.

How has the output of fisheries in the Philippines been trending since 2013?

The output of fisheries has been falling every year from 2013 to 2018, with climate factors and overfishing contributing to the erratic trend.

How does the Philippines' agricultural export performance compare to its Southeast Asian neighbors?

The Philippines' agricultural exports were behind those of Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, with Vietnam at $30 billion, Indonesia and Thailand at $30-40 billion per year, while the Philippines made it to $7 billion in 2017.

What is the significance of RA 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act for Philippine agriculture?

RA 11321 promotes farmer and fisherfolk enterprises and offers a pathway towards clustering, consolidation, and partnership with the private sector, which is part of the new thinking for leveling up agriculture.

What are the eight paradigms of the new thinking for agriculture in the Philippines?

The eight paradigms include modernization, industrialization, consolidation, aggressive development of infrastructure, development of road maps, budgeting, legislative support, and partnerships.

How can cooperatives play a critical role in the new developments in Philippine agriculture?

Cooperatives can facilitate consolidation, promote the spread of modern technologies, and pioneer partnerships with the private sector to transform farming into agribusiness.

What opportunities do digital advancements like e-commerce offer to farmer and fisherfolk enterprises?

E-commerce offers opportunities for farmer and fisherfolk enterprises to take advantage of the digital revolution through functional organizations and effective partnerships with the private sector.