By Manny Piñol
Some people seem to have forgotten that I am a former newsman and I can smell a media black propaganda a kilometre away.
For over a month now, articles and columns by known paid hacks have been critical about the performance of the Agriculture Sector under this Administration and of course, the object of the attack is the Secretary of Agriculture.
“Agriculture is dying,” said one column.
My response? “Hay, Diyos ko pong mahabagin, bata pa ako narinig ko na yan pero hanggang ngayon nagtatanim pa rin ang magsasaka.”
Agriculture will never be able to satisfy the needs of a population growing at a rate of 1.7% with a budget share of a measly 1.6%.
In spite of that, did Agriculture die in the past or is it dying now?
For as long as people eat, farmers and fishermen will always be around.
Of course, you will continuously hear the whining and the complaining from farmers whenever prices of their produce drop.
Inversely, you will also hear a lot of noise from consumers when the prices of food commodities in the market go up.
It is a difficult balancing act for us in the Agriculture Department.
To set records straight, here are some data from the Philippines Statistics Authority:
Agriculture growth under President Benigno Aquino III:
Last two years – 2015 – +0.19%; 2016 – negative (-) 1.40%. Cumulative total in Agriculture Performance for two years was Negative (-) 1.21%
Agriculture growth under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte:
First two years – 2017 – Positive (+) 3.96%; 2018 – Positive (+) 0.56%.
The +3.96% growth in 2017 added to the disappointing +0.56% growth in 2018 means an average growth of +2.26% for the first two years of the Duterte Administration.
The drastic reduction in Agriculture growth in 2018 was attributed to the devastation suffered by farmers in Northern Luzon from 8 major tropical depressions and typhoons, including the Super Typhoon Ompong which destroyed P37.2-B worth of crops.
In the same manner, the negative performance of Agriculture in the last year of the Aquino Administration was attributed to the El Niño which led hungry farmers to a bloody demonstration in Kidapawan City where two of them were killed.
For the record, the Duterte Administration posted the highest harvest of rice in the history of the country with 19.28-million metric tons in 2017, higher by over 1 million metric tons than the last production of the Aquino Administration.
Even when the rice sector suffered over 1-million metric tons in losses in 2018 because of the almost monthly tropical disturbances, the harvest was still a very high 19.066-million metric tons.
These are numbers coming from the PSA but the critics who obviously would like me booted out as Agriculture Secretary conveniently ignore the catastrophic numbers of Agriculture under the Aquino Administration.
I am really wondering if these same columnists who now say that Agriculture is dying under the Duterte Administration because of 0.56% growth in 2018, brought Agriculture to the cemetery in the last two years of the Aquino Administration.
For the record, if President Duterte gives me a wink to indicate that he wants me to take a hike, I will not stay a minute longer.
I am doing my job with passion because I love my job and I want to serve but admittedly, I also get frustrated and tired at times.
So to the operators of the media black propaganda, you are only wasting your money on those paid hacks.
By the way, Agriculture will rebound this year, with God’s grace and protection.
Early indicators show a bountiful harvest in the first Semester for rice, the climate is favourable for corn, the Philippines has regained its status as the No. 2 banana exporter in the world and other products where we have invested in like Abaca are starting to show dramatic growth.
This year, the DA is projecting a historic harvest of 20-million metric tons and this is based on the increase in the number of farmers using inbred and hybrid seeds, from 48% to 60% last year.
Fisheries which for years have posted negative growth, levelled off this year and it is expected to grow with the establishment of ice-making, cold storage and post harvest facilities this year in the fishing communities.
Also, the Closed Fishing Season Program is showing positive results with the big fish like Tuna and others swimming close to shore to feed on the Pelagic species which have multiplied because of the conservation program.
So there you are.
I wish articles and columns would also proclaim the reincarnation of Agriculture when that happens.
(Statistics shown in the graphs all came from the Philippine Statistics Authority.)
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