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Agriculture accounts for 30% of the Filipino employment as of 2014. Agriculture contributes 11% to the
country’s GDP as of 2014.
Aside from its contribution on employment and economy, agricultural products are the main, if not the
only source of our food. Thus, agriculture should not be only important to our country, but to other
countries as well.
The Philippines has plenty of arable lands and the climate is conducive for agricultural activities. While
industrialization is good and important for the economy, the government and every Filipino should still
prioritize agriculture. Because, again, agricultural products are the main, if not the only source of our
food.
Jose Rizal said, "We cannot all be doctors; someone has to till the soil". Yet, it seems like we’re forgetting
the wisdom from our national hero. Everyone wants to go to the city for luxurious jobs, and I can’t
blame them, everyone deserves to live a better life.
The government isn’t providing enough support for our farmers. They toil sun up till sun down, they
battle with pests, calamities, and scorching heat, only to sell their crops sometimes dirt cheap.
There is projected food shortage in the coming decades. The population keeps growing and arable lands
get slimmer by the day.
It is everyone’s responsibility to make agriculture thrive. We must think of and practice ways to make it
sustainable.
Why is agriculture important in the Philippines and their economy? Because WE NEED TO EAT and YOU
NEED TO EAT TOO, so agriculture is just as important in your country.
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Michael Agyeman
Agriculture is important in every country. It is one of the main pillars of any economy and the ability to
sustain a nation's population from your own sources keeps people busy with work and puts food on
their tables without having to beg borrow or buy from external sources. At the same time, a strong, well
balanced agricultural system could leave surplus for future, emergency use and for export as a means of
filling the national coffers.
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Nick Angel II, studied Agriculture & Pest Control at University of the Philippines Los Baños (1986)
Because the Philippines is an agricultural country, a fact that previous administrations tried not to
acknowledge and failed to focus and improve on. The Philippines can never go to an industrialized state
without developing its agricultural base.
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Ric Lawes, works at Film & Television Industry
Third world economies rely on agriculture. Low cost, low investment means poor economies can survive
and thrive. Labour accepts lesser payment and as is often said, “leaves enough ‘rice’ on the table for the
next person”.
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The Philippines has a population of one hundred million. Thus, agriculture is more important than other
industries in the Philippines in order to keep everyone fed.
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What is the importance of agriculture in the Philippines? What are the issues its facing?
Importance is food security, no doubt about. Challenges. When I was still in college, one of our
professors claimed the the Filipino farmer produces more rice “per hectare” compared to their Thai
and...
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What is the importance of agriculture in the Philippines? What are the issues its facing?
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Challenges.
When I was still in college, one of our professors claimed the the Filipino farmer produces more rice “per
hectare” compared to their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts. Then why is it that what we are not
producing as much?
Here is why.
Also, while other countries such as Japan and Australia are “consolidating” their farm lands, here in the
Philippines, we keep on dividing and dividing the lands until each farm is just a few hundred square
meters.
My great grandfather has dozens of agricultural lands. My grandfather inherited about 3 hectares which
is enough to raise four children and send some of them to college. His four heirs will then have 0.75 ha.
each. If this trend continues, all I learned about farm machinery, those automated planters and
harvesters, those post-harvest technologies, will then be applied on a 1500 sq. m. piece of land, so much
for industrialized farming.
We also have this agrarian reform that distributes large areas of land to small farmers. And if it isn’t
economically bad enough, those farmers keep selling their newly acquired assets to land developers
who would later convert those lands to subdivisions.
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Importance:
Food security - the Philippines is an agricultural country yet we import rice.Massive unemployment -
agriculture can be a viable means to solve the issue of unemployment in the country.
Issues:
Some issues are mainly due to the fact that the agricultural sector has been forced to overperform
without the means of production to retain sustainable agriculture. Native farmers often used traditional
methods of farming that stood the test of time and typhoons experienced by the country but this is not
the case today.
Lack of national industrialization - agricultural lands are still being tilled using animals instead of heavy
machinery; most heavy machinery are used only by big corporations. Farmers have to hand plant the
rice, often under the scorching sunLack of agricultural reform - most farmers are landless, have tilled
land that are not theirs for a pittance thus living in poverty and often in hungerMonocropping - in order
harvest more, farmers tend to use monocropping which drains nutrients from the soil. This is not an
issue before the capitalist oriented agricultural framework. Farmers used indigenous other indigenous
plants to maximize the use of the soil and to harvest other food like sweet potato and other root
crops.There is still a semi-feudal system ongoing - farmers are being paid for their labor by landlords
who own the land, sometimes having to deal with a 70/30 agreement that favors the landlords. In times
of small harvests, farmers are still made to fulfill the quota even if it meant giving away their own
portions.Imported crops being smuggled into markets - farmers are forced to sell their crops at lower
prices to compete with the prices of smuggled goods
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Once upon a time, I was taking my internship with an American multinational in Manila, somewhere in
Taguig, which requires me to travel by bus, train, and another train (in that order) just to get home.
Since traffic in Manila sucks at pretty much every weekday, I started catching up with my friend studying
agriculture at the University of the Philippines - Los Banos. Being a curious person, I started asking her a
bunch of questions about agriculture.
Me: Why does Philippine agriculture suck? Why the hell do we have to import rice? Isn’t agriculture
supposed to be a strength?
Friend: Agriculture sucks because land ownership, farmer’s access to market and technology and
governmental support and regulation sucks. We import rice and agriculture sucks because the weather
sometimes sucks as well. I mean we get battered by almost twenty typhoons per year. That affects
agriculture a lot.
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Anonymous
The Biggest problems the Philippines is currently facing? * Corruption - From the national government to
local/provincial/city governments. Imagine how many politicians deduct their kickbacks from ...
Read More
Agriculture accounts for 30% of the Filipino employment as of 2014. Agriculture contributes 11% to the
country’s GDP as of 2014. Aside from its contribution on employment and economy, agricultural p...
Read More
Mostly due to lack of support from the government. * The government should help provide proper
irrigation especially to rice farmers. * Many farmers do not have enough capital to plant and maintain...
Read More
Anonymous
Everyone here is focused on the immediate issues (corruption, social values) but let me try to paint a
more historical picture - Why did the Philippines become this way, and why did it not follow t...
Read More
You eat and you wear clothes. Most clothes have ag roots. If agricultural does not exist then you have to
figure out how to produce your own food. If you spend your time trying to grow or find some...
What is the importance of agriculture in the Philippines? What are the issues its facing?
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3 ANSWERS
Challenges.
When I was still in college, one of our professors claimed the the Filipino farmer produces more rice “per
hectare” compared to their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts. Then why is it that what we are not
producing as much?
Here is why.
Also, while other countries such as Japan and Australia are “consolidating” their farm lands, here in the
Philippines, we keep on dividing and dividing the lands until each farm is just a few hundred square
meters.
My great grandfather has dozens of agricultural lands. My grandfather inherited about 3 hectares which
is enough to raise four children and send some of them to college. His four heirs will then have 0.75 ha.
each. If this trend continues, all I learned about farm machinery, those automated planters and
harvesters, those post-harvest technologies, will then be applied on a 1500 sq. m. piece of land, so much
for industrialized farming.
We also have this agrarian reform that distributes large areas of land to small farmers. And if it isn’t
economically bad enough, those farmers keep selling their newly acquired assets to land developers
who would later convert those lands to subdivisions.
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Continue Reading
I sincerely hope this is not a homework question.
Putting it in bullet points for readability (these are the reasons I can think of off the top of my head):
Importance:
Food security - the Philippines is an agricultural country yet we import rice.Massive unemployment -
agriculture can be a viable means to solve the issue of unemployment in the country.
Issues:
Some issues are mainly due to the fact that the agricultural sector has been forced to overperform
without the means of production to retain sustainable agriculture. Native farmers often used traditional
methods of farming that stood the test of time and typhoons experienced by the country but this is not
the case today.
Lack of national industrialization - agricultural lands are still being tilled using animals instead of heavy
machinery; most heavy machinery are used only by big corporations. Farmers have to hand plant the
rice, often under the scorching sunLack of agricultural reform - most farmers are landless, have tilled
land that are not theirs for a pittance thus living in poverty and often in hungerMonocropping - in order
harvest more, farmers tend to use monocropping which drains nutrients from the soil. This is not an
issue before the capitalist oriented agricultural framework. Farmers used indigenous other indigenous
plants to maximize the use of the soil and to harvest other food like sweet potato and other root
crops.There is still a semi-feudal system ongoing - farmers are being paid for their labor by landlords
who own the land, sometimes having to deal with a 70/30 agreement that favors the landlords. In times
of small harvests, farmers are still made to fulfill the quota even if it meant giving away their own
portions.Imported crops being smuggled into markets - farmers are forced to sell their crops at lower
prices to compete with the prices of smuggled goods
774 Views · View Upvoters
Upvote· 45
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Continue Reading
Once upon a time, I was taking my internship with an American multinational in Manila, somewhere in
Taguig, which requires me to travel by bus, train, and another train (in that order) just to get home.
Since traffic in Manila sucks at pretty much every weekday, I started catching up with my friend studying
agriculture at the University of the Philippines - Los Banos. Being a curious person, I started asking her a
bunch of questions about agriculture.
Me: Why does Philippine agriculture suck? Why the hell do we have to import rice? Isn’t agriculture
supposed to be a strength?
Friend: Agriculture sucks because land ownership, farmer’s access to market and technology and
governmental support and regulation sucks. We import rice and agriculture sucks because the weather
sometimes sucks as well. I mean we get battered by almost twenty typhoons per year. That affects
agriculture a lot.
1.9k Views · View Upvoters
Upvote· 89
Share
Comment...
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Anonymous
The Biggest problems the Philippines is currently facing? * Corruption - From the national government to
local/provincial/city governments. Imagine how many politicians deduct their kickbacks from ...
Read More
Agriculture accounts for 30% of the Filipino employment as of 2014. Agriculture contributes 11% to the
country’s GDP as of 2014. Aside from its contribution on employment and economy, agricultural p...
Read More
Why is agriculture important in the Philippines and their economy?
Answer
67
Follow
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5 ANSWERS
Agriculture accounts for 30% of the Filipino employment as of 2014. Agriculture contributes 11% to the
country’s GDP as of 2014.
Aside from its contribution on employment and economy, products are the main, if not the only source
of our food. Thus, agriculture should not be only important to our country, but to other countries as
well.
The Philippines has plenty of arable lands and the climate is conducive for agricultural activities. While
industrialization is good and important for the economy, the government and every Filipino should still
prioritize agriculture. Because, again, agricultural products are the main, if not the only source of our
food.
Jose Rizal said, "We cannot all be doctors; someone has to till the soil". Yet, it seems like we’re forgetting
the wisdom from our national hero. Everyone wants to go to the city for luxurious jobs, and I can’t
blame them, everyone deserves to live a better life.
The government isn’t providing enough support for our farmers. They toil sun up till sun down, they
battle with pests, calamities, and scorching heat, only to sell their crops sometimes dirt cheap.
There is projected food shortage in the coming decades. The population keeps growing and arable lands
get slimmer by the day.
It is everyone’s responsibility to make agriculture thrive. We must think of and practice ways to make it
sustainable.
Why is agriculture important in the Philippines and their economy? Because WE NEED TO EAT and YOU
NEED TO EAT TOO, so agriculture is just as important in your country.
2.9k Views · View Upvoters
Upvote· 34
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Promoted by DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo has been a profitable company since 2014 without storing or sharing any personal
information on people using our search engine. As we like to say, what you search on DuckDuckGo is
privat...
Michael Agyeman
Agriculture is important in every country. It is one of the main pillars of any economy and the ability to
sustain a nation's population from your own sources keeps people busy with work and puts food on
their tables without having to beg borrow or buy from external sources. At the same time, a strong, well
balanced agricultural system could leave surplus for future, emergency use and for export as a means of
filling the national coffers.
3.3k Views · View Upvoters
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Nick Angel II, studied Agriculture & Pest Control at University of the Philippines Los Baños (1986)
Because the Philippines is an agricultural country, a fact that previous administrations tried not to
acknowledge and failed to focus and improve on. The Philippines can never go to an industrialized state
without developing its agricultural base.
Upvote· 45
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Ric Lawes, works at Film & Television Industry
Third world economies rely on agriculture. Low cost, low investment means poor economies can survive
and thrive. Labour accepts lesser payment and as is often said, “leaves enough ‘rice’ on the table for the
next person”.
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Richard Cayabyab
Answered Jan 18
There are a lot of factors that affect the Philippine Agriculture Industry. Let's enumerate it:
Capital - let's face it, money can buy the right seeds, machines, fertilizers and feeds for your farm. Heck,
it can also buy you water from the GOVERNMENT funded irrigation projects (but let's not go there). This
precious resource is what our farmers are missing. Without access to fair and favorable credits, we
cannot hope that our farmers can achieve the HIGH volume of produce the government is
expecting.Ageing Farmers - with BPOs, office jobs, and other fancy corporate titles that you can have in
the city, our youth is now shying away from the mud, the heat and constant hard labor that agricultural
work is offering. But this type of agriculture work should be in the past. There are paddy boots to
protect from the mud, there are sunscreen, longsleeves, and hats to protect from the scorching sun and
there are machineries to do the hard labor. Agriculture should have a motto of “Don't work hard, Work
Smart”, because there are smarter ways of doing things, which brings us to..Lack of Information - from
irrigation techniques, appropriate machineries, suitable varieties, and cultivation techniques. Our
farmers have a LOT to learn in order to achieve our Food Self-sufficiency goal. With the right knowledge,
agriculture can be profitable. From crop cycles, to inter-cropping, zero tillage and intensive agricultural
practices, we can reap the rewards and results of years of RESEARCH.Government Support - agriculture
is what feeds a country, if our neighbors stops selling rice to our country, a lot of Filipinos would starve,
yet our government has failed to rekindle, and revitalize the agriculture sector of the country. CARP
which divides land parcel of lands to small lands was great until you see it's effects. Lands for agriculture
being converted into subdivisions, size of machineries beinf unprofitable to such small land holding
further decreasing out efforts to mechanize agriculture. Farm to Market roads, Food Chain, huge post
harvest losses, not to mention the hoarders, and middlemen. The list goes on..The Poorman of the
Philippines - being a farmer in the Philippines have a bad rep. If you're a farmer, your poor af. That alone
can make anyone without a background in agriculture shy away from tilling our lands. We should change
this mindset, and make agriculture a noble profession. They are the one thst feeds us, agriculture is life.
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The government should help provide proper irrigation especially to rice farmers.Many farmers do not
have enough capital to plant and maintain their farm. The government should provide free (or lend)
seedlings to farmers, and lend machineries/tools to them.Most farmers have too little area of farm land.
I know farmers who own only 2 hectares of land. The government should revive and strictly implement
the agrarian reform program. Many rich clans like the Cojuangco and Aquino (Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac)
stole and illegally own huge lands. These lands were taken from poor farmers who were massacred by
these greedy people.The government should provide free proper education/training/seminar to farmers
on modern farming techniques and new farm technologies that will help improve their output.Typhoons
and floods. An average of 20 typhoons per year hit our country. I guess there’s little we can do about it.
However, I believe that a good flood control system will help a bit.Infrastructure like farm-to-market
roads.
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Rebecca Hernandez, BS Agriculture student at The University of the Philippines, Los Baños
If the Government would support the farmers by giving them land, fertilizers, equipment, and
salary/profit then there would be no problems at all.
In my opinion if their salary is almost as much as a doctor, life would be better for them and encourage
the youth in agriculture. They deserve that much as they provided us with food and the source of
medicine, food for livestock and poultry, shelter, and fiber for clothing and ropes.
There is always money when it comes to food. I hate it when people belittle people like us BS
Agriculturists that we would only till the land. I'm tempted to yell at them and try to transplant rice (my
thighs hurt afterward by just transplanting around 5 meters of land) and not eat food at all for seeing us
so insignifant. Don't they know that without agriculture, society and civilization would never exist and
we will be hunter gatherers instead.
Filipino farmers are wary when there is a mechanized planter or new tech being introduced. It is seen as
a threat to their minimum wage jobs. My professor told us that during a demo run, a farmer left a metal
wrench/wire in the rice paddy, destroying the mechanized transplanter. I understand why they did it. It
would displace some farmers job and it's not that practical as you would only use it for up to 2 planting
seasons every year. Plus the maintenance involved.
They refuse to change their cultivation practices. Always preferring the old method. Rice researches
would always tell them that only fertilize during this certain day and it is okay for the rice to not be
flooded every time until harvest. It is proven by research that rice would only need this nutrient at a
certain life stage and that alternating water and dry method is proven to have high yields compared to
continuous flooding. They always say yes that they will follow it but no, they would only repeat their old
practices.
There are a lot, and I hope that these main problems would be solved sooner than later.
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Gnoe Gargallo, studied Geography & Urban and Regional Planning at University of the Philippines
Diliman
Land tenure, I think, is the most relevant problem in agriculture. Due to limited land ownership, farmers
don’t get to develop their technology and maximize full potential of the because they do not own it in
the first place. When it is turned over to them, however, their resources have already been exhausted
thus selling their property to landed families hence the status quo. This is relatable to number 2.
utilization of technology. Landed families do not invest much on technology therefore manual labor is
still prominent in food production. You will see the father, son, nephew, all men in the family physcially
invested in manual production of food from the land that they do not own. Upon harvesting and
processing they would still have to pay additional cost on transferring the produce to market which
costs a lot due to several conditions such as dilapidated and continuously deteriorating (or worse
undeveloped) roads. Lastly, these conditions and the lack of technology and technical knowledge to
farmers and rampant conversion of land from agriculture to urbanized areas would eventually threat
food sustenance to Filipinos in the next 3 decades.
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