MALIEHA A.

KUSAIN
PA-299 2A
Seminar in Governmental Management
PROF. MARICOR BAYOG

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The Department of is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the
promotion of agricultural and fisheries development and growth. The Philippines is still
primarily an agricultural country despite the plan to make it an industrialized economy by 2000.
Most citizens still live in rural areas and support themselves through agriculture. The country's
agriculture sector is made up of 4 sub-sectors: farming, fisheries, livestock, and forestry (the
latter 2 sectors are very small), which together employ 39.8 percent of the labor force and
contribute 20 percent of GDP.
The country's main agricultural crops are rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple,
coffee, mangoes, tobacco, and abaca (a banana-like plant). Secondary crops include peanut,
cassava, camote (a type of root crop), garlic, onion, cabbage, eggplant, calamansi (a variety of
lemon), rubber, and cotton. The year 1998 was a bad year for agriculture because of adverse
weather conditions. Sector output shrank by 8.3 percent, but it posted growth the following year.
Yet, hog farming and commercial fishing posted declines in their gross revenues in 1999. The
sector is burdened with low productivity for most of its crops.

One of the most pressing concerns of the agricultural sector is the rampant conversion of
agricultural land into golf courses, residential subdivisions, and industrial parks or resorts. In
1993 the nation was losing irrigated rice lands at a rate of 2,300 hectares per year. Small land-
holders find it more profitable to sell their land to developers in exchange for cash, especially
since they lack capital for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and wages for hiring workers to plant and
harvest the crops. Another concern is farmers' continued reliance on chemical-based fertilizers or
pesticides that have destroyed soil productivity over time. In recent years however, farmers have
been slowly turning to organic fertilizer, or at least to a combination of chemical and organic
inputs.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) logo shows a bundle of freshly-harvested stalks of rice. The
golden grains symbolize the goal that the Department seeks to attain for the sector - bountiful
harvest - manifested in agricultural productivity, food security, and self-sufficiency. The green
stalks tied together represent the various agencies and offices of the Department covering its
commodity and functional concerns, i.e., crops, livestock, fisheries, alongside the provision of
production support, research and development, product standards, sectorial policy and planning,
credit, marketing support, extension, training, information and education tied together in a spirit
of unity and cooperation to effectively deliver the package of services essential to attain this
“bountiful harvest”.
The DA envisions a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fishers. It shall
collectively empower them and the private sector to increase agricultural productivity and
profitability, taking into account sustainable, competitive, and resilient technologies and
practices.

Even though 50% of land in the Philippines is Agricultural and statistics of 1:2 of the populace
are farmers, we continue to import agricultural products. Most of our farmers remain at the
poverty level due to lack of support from our government, capitalism, land reform, lack of
irrigation, farm to market roads, etc. Our Farm lands are abused with the excessive use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides that contributes to poor harvest. I grew up in a village in the
Nabilan where farming is the main source of livelihood. After 29 years the place is still the same,
except for a rough road connecting the Barrio to town and electric power. New farming
technologies and research have now solutions for sustainable agriculture. Today some company
has step up to make organic farming as easy as the synthetic fertilizer. It is been process through
latest technology such as Nano technology that cuts out the time needs for the plants to utilized
it. We can help our farmers gain and restore the smiles in their faces.

Agriculture is the strength of the Philippines. We should concentrate more resources to improve
it. Food sufficiency is the most vital part of any society. The Philippines is blessed with fertile
soil and ideal growing weather for basic survival we have everything compared to other
countries where nature is harsh. All we need to do is take care of our natural habitat and it will
continue to provide us all the necessities in life. Most people’s main source of livelihood is
farming. About 70% of people rely directly on agriculture as a livelihood. The result of the non-
development of non-agricultural activities to absorb the fast-growing population is this high
percentage in agriculture. Furthermore, many people are not engaged in agriculture in developed
countries.

Since agriculture employs many people, it contributes to economic development. As a result, the
national income level, as well as people’s standard of living, is improved. The fast rate of
development in the agriculture sector offers progressive outlook as well as increased motivation
for development. Hence, it aids to create a good atmosphere for the overall economic
development of a country. Therefore, economic development relies on the agricultural growth
rate.

A stable agricultural sector ensures a nation of food security. The main requirement of any
country is food security. Food security prevents malnourishment that has traditionally been
believed to be one of the major problems faced by developing countries. Most countries rely on
agricultural products as well as associated industries for their main source of income.