While it is morbid and even sad to say that Agriculture may be dying, it is a fact that there is a crisis.
Slow- death refers to the physical wearing out of a population and the deterioration of people in that population. In most people who are dying, the body’s normal systems start to operate more slowly, including the heart beating more slowly and blood moving around the body more slowly. That is the internet induced of slow death a phenomenon, not just a description.
Attending the Population Development Directors Forum last month, I was stunned with the question more of an observation forwarded by Engr. Juancho Tesado, what happens to the Rice and Coco industries, when the one that plants and harvest the two main crops are ageing? Why do young people shy away from farming?
When these happens who would till the land? Will the young be forever consumers not producers? Would we be dependent to imports? Would our land fertile and ready be reduced to be grasslands without grazing animals?
What other realities comes as the diseases of the Agri Industry that we can say, its on the brink of death? Is it on a slow dreadful slow death? Let me count the ways on why it is indeed, problematic.
1. Rice Tariffication: The Rice Tariffication Law, enacted in 2019, replaced import restrictions with tariffs, allowing private entities to import rice freely. While this was intended to stabilize rice prices and benefit consumers, many local farmers have struggled to compete with cheaper imported rice, leading to financial difficulties. Prices of vegetables and fruits from abroad are cheaper.
2. Land Conversion: The conversion of agricultural lands into residential, industrial, and commercial developments has reduced the land available for farming. Policies have been adjusted to speed up land conversion processes, which has raised concerns about food security and the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
3. Declining Interest in Agriculture: Many younger Filipinos are moving away from farming due to economic instability, lack of government support, and the perception that agriculture is not a profitable or sustainable career. This has led to a shrinking workforce in the sector.
While it is morbid and even sad to say that Agriculture may be dying, it is a fact that there is a crisis. The Department of Agriculture even declared that months ago. We need to enact policy shifts and craft laws for the benefit of the agriculture sector. Unless we do, we will not be having food in our tables, soon, and for the foodie in all of us, it is a disaster!
