Those who condemn Phiippine Agriculture as a dying industry blaming farmers for not being competitive should take time out to visit Barangay Layog in Pagalungan, Maguindanao.
Layog, a village of 5,000 hectares of rich alluvial soil by the banks of the oft-flooded Pulangui River, is a perfect model of why many areas in the countryside have remained poor in spite of the abundance of resources for food production.
The village is separated from Pagalungan town by the huge Pulangui River which flows down from the mountains of Bukidnon, passes through Liguasan Marsh and ends up in the Rio Grande de Mindanao.
There is no other means of transportation for people and goods from Layog to the market except through the flimsy river boats without any outriggers.
The area grows corn, coconut and mango but since the expense in bringing out the products to the market is so high, the farmers do not plant much.
With water surrounding the village, it could grow a lot of rice but since there is no irrigation system and the production expense is very high, nobody has invested in rice production.
To bring a sack of corn to the market, the farmer will have to spend about P100 per bag for hauling alone.
So, for ages, life has been such for the village residents.
Earlier this year, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) took notice of Layog when it was recommended as the site of the Bangsamoro Vegetable Derby.
In spite of the difficulty in reaching the area, MinDA staff and technicians of seed companies, penetrated Layog and engaged local farmers in a season-long mentoring program.
True enough, Layog’s rich soil showed that it is a potential source of lowland vegetables for the huge market of the BARMM.
Today, I visited Layog and saw for myself the great potentials for the area for food production.
But without a bridge and a road to connect it to the town proper, Layog will not realize its full potentials of contributing to the food security of the country.
This brings to the reality that unless government provides the needed infrastructure, the Filipino farmers will never be competitive.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Video footage by Kimberly Joy D. Sarino, MinDA OC.)
https://fb.watch/aAJjAvR5_N/
More Stories
Thank You, Dado, Alamada Vegetable Farmers!
1st Batch Of Spanish Goats Arriving End Of April!
Actual Farming Experience!