Securing Our Future Through Agriculture

By ProPinoy Project

The average age of Filipino farmers, according to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, is 57. Meanwhile, the average age of the Department of Agriculture‘s (DA) employees is mid 50′s. Aren’t the figures alarming?

To solve this hounding problem in the Philippine agricultural sector, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala announced during the third Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Food Security on Wednesday, July 13, that the Aquino government is providing scholarship grants to Filipinos especially the children of farmers to encourage them to take-up courses in agriculture.

“Ang malaking kikitain ang nag-aakit sa mga magsasaka para payagan ang anak niya na kumuha ng agricultural classes. Meron po tayong scholarship funds,” said Alcala.

In addition, the DA Secretary affirms that government programs in agriculture are now in place to help farmers and empower them with proper farming practices and the provision of funding support to increase their productivity in their respective communities.

“Kung iyon pong magulang (farmers) nabigyan natin ng pagkakataon na kumita na hindi naman po sila nag-aral ng kumpleto nung una pero dahil sa tamang tulong ngayon na technical, may access sa funds, with that marketing help (from the government), kumikita na po sila ng mas mahigit sa isang ordinaryong empleyadong sumusweldo sa banko,” Alcala stressed.

With the continuous rise in unemployment rate in the country, Sec. Procy said that it is more wise and practical to send children in agricultural schools which are more affordable than allowing them to take-up expensive courses that won’t land them a job.

Sec. Proceso Alcala said that the Department of Agriculture is working hard to achieve and implement effectively government programs to meet President Aquino’s order to advocate and support the productivity of farmers in the countryside or rural areas where help is most needed.

On the other hand, the DA secretary also emphasized the need of Filipino farmers to undergo training in pest management, organic farming and other services to sustainable management of crops, livestocks and grains.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who has been closely working with Sec. Alcala, said in one of his press releases that there are lots of opportunities in farming and what’s needed is actually a synergy of the whole chain–from the producers to the traders.

The Senator also wishes to change how farmers are generally perceived and turn them as “farmpreneurs.” (coined from the word farmer and entrepreneur)

“We will build their capacity to earn more by providing them the means to sell their products directly to market via our fellow AF2025 convenors. We also have in AF2025 the built-in network to ensure the sustainability of the project,” said the Senator.

Sen. Pangilinan along with the Department of Agriculture and the private sector convened the Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 (AF2025), gathering for the first time representatives of farmers, traders, suppliers and media to craft a long-term plan in addressing the country’s various agriculture and fisheries issues.

“This is an out-of-the box way of approaching decades-old problem of unemployment, poverty, and food self-sufficiency. And this is exactly the proverbial shot in the arm needed to boost further what the DA under the Aquino administration has accomplished. It is about time our agriculture and fisheries sector get the recognition and status that they deserve,” conveyed Pangilinan.


Philippine Farming Changes

The past 30 years have not been so profitable for the Philippine marginal farmer. With commodity prices in the past relatively low, its been cheaper to import food than grow and distribute it domestically. Philippine farmer parents have been telling their children based on the the parents past bad experience not to farm but to do something else for money making income. The fact is now into the foreseeable future, commodity prices, specifically soft commodities of food, prices having been steadily rising, and should continue to rise over the long-term with demand outstripping supply now with China now being a net importer of food and other global demand supply factors. The opportunity to profit handsomely from farming has never been so great in a generation or more. Share this news with Philippine marginal farmers to start producing more than they only consume to sell and earn income. Professional farmers already know this, and are profiting from it. The reality is now and into the future, its very profitable to be a Philippine professional and or marginal farmer.

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Rising Food Costs & Overseas Farming

South Korea to Expand Overseas Farming on Rising Food Costs

South Korea, the world’s third-biggest corn buyer, plans to secure more farmland overseas to grow crops such as corn and wheat and secure a stable supply amid surging food prices.

The North Asian nation wants to secure a total of 380,000 hectares of overseas farmland by 2018, the agriculture ministry said in an e-mailed statement today, without giving a comparative figure. That area can produce about 1.38 million tons of corn, wheat and soybeans, or about 10 percent of the nation’s annual imports of the three major crops, it said.

South Korea, which relies on imports for almost all its corn and wheat while fully self-sufficient in rice, is seeking to boost supplies as surging global food costs fuel inflation. Corn futures prices have jumped 63 percent in Chicago in the past year, while soybeans climbed 42 percent and wheat gained 22 percent.

The government will help the nation’s companies lease arable land or buy stakes in overseas firms, the statement said. It will prioritize countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Ukraine, Indonesia and Russia for potential investments, it said.

South Korea also plans to expand its overseas grain trading business into countries including Brazil, Russia and Ukraine after a U.S. venture was set up earlier this year, the statement said. State-run Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. in April started a grain-trading venture in Chicago to help secure supplies, the statement said.

By Bloomberg


Philippine Agriculture Opportunity

Not only South Korea, but China and many other nations are running out of food due to high demand, low production, and high prices. The Philippines can benefit in two ways, by producing more for its own domestic consumption, and the growing foreign demand for food products. With commodity prices at record high levels and looking to stay that way, the Philippines has the potential to benefit in so many ways. Invest in Philippine farming and farmers, and watch that investment earn exponential returns in the long-term. Contact and urge your local government officials to help the Philippines be food self-sufficient and in time, a food exporting country again.

Nutriplant Nutriplus Organics Protocol Input Costs Per Hectare for All Types of Crops

Includes organic nutrients for seed sowing.

P2,500 1 Spray Application - For Rice Always Apply at Panicle Initiation

P3,800 2 Spray Application - Typical for fruit, rice, corn, vegetables, and flowers.

P5,200 3 Spray Application - Full Nutriplant Nutriplus application protocol with no other application required of any other nutrient fertilizer products.

Increase harvests, naturally organically, with lower input costs.

Good for the farmer, the environment, and the consumer.




Nutriplant Organic Fertilizers

Click the links below to naturally and organically increase harvest productions with lower input costs.

Click here to review Nutriplus NPK 4-18-18 Organic Fertilizer

Click here to review Nutriplant AG Organic Fertilizer

Click here to review Nutriplant SD Organic Seed Germination Fertilizer

Click here to review APSA80 All Purpose Spray Adjuvant

Click here to review Nutriplus K+ Potassium

Click here to review Nutriplus Zn+ Zinc