“Manila, September 9, 2020 – Transforming Philippine
agriculture into a dynamic, high-growth sector is essential for the country to
speed up recovery, poverty reduction and inclusive growth, according to the
latest report released by the World Bank.”
(image from freepik.com)
Titled “Transforming Philippine Agriculture During
Covid-19 and Beyond,” the report says that transforming the country’s farming
and food systems is even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure
strong food value chains, affordable and nutritious food, and a vibrant rural
economy.”
Emphasis: “A
vibrant rural economy.”
"Modernizing the country’s agricultural sector is
a very important agenda for the Philippines,” said Ndiame Diop, World Bank Country Director Brunei, Malaysia,
Thailand, and the Philippines. “With the exception of a few small natural
resource-rich countries, no country has successfully transitioned from middle-
to high-income status without having achieved an effective transformation of
their agri-food systems. Transforming agriculture and food systems is always challenging.
But the country’s new vision for agriculture, it’s current thrust for
diversification and use of modern technologies, and its effective management of
food supply during this pandemic clearly indicate that the country is
well-equipped to overcome the challenge.”
With “the country’s
new vision for agriculture” … “the country is well-equipped to overcome the
challenge” to transform agriculture from poor to rich.
That World Bank report
was enthusiastically written in favor of PH Agriculture when William Dar was Secretary of Agriculture.
Note that the World Bank mentions “the country’s new vision for agriculture” – Mr
Dar came in as Secretary in 2019 with his “New Thinking” that I myself quoted thus
on 26 Aug 2019 (“William Dar's 8 Paradigms For PH New Thinking For Agriculture,”
Communication For Development, blogspot.com):
To realize the vision of President Duterte for a
food-secure Philippines and to double the income of farmers and fisherfolk, I
propose a strategy built around eight paradigms that also make up the "new
thinking" for agriculture. The eight paradigms are:
(1) Modernization of agriculture
(2) Industrialization of agriculture
(3) Promotion of exports
(4) Farm consolidation
(5) Roadmap development
(6) Infrastructure development
(7) Higher budget and investments for agriculture, and
(8) Legislative support.
Wonderful!
Unfortunately, Mr Dar
was unceremoniously replaced by President Ferdinand
“BBM” Marcos Jr with BBM appointing himself as the new Secretary of
Agriculture, and that new vision was not only dimmed but was extinguished.
As I Frank A Hilario am an agriculturist and
conservationist think more of the 3 million Filipino farmers who are still
poor, I insist that the Philippines needs indeed to continue its New Thinking in
Agriculture and that BBM re-appoint Mr Dar as Secretary of Agriculture!
As of today, my
country the Philippines is still asleep on its old thoughts about agriculture –
wake up, BBM!@517
No comments:
Post a Comment