Real Talk! Crash Course On Farming Proposed For Lawmakers

A short workshop or a crash course for Senators and Congressmen on Agriculture and Fisheries in the country and a deeper study on the global status of food supply and demand is an urgent step which must be taken as the world faces an imminent danger of a food crisis.
This should be initiated by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council aimed at fostering a deeper knowledge of the country’s Agriculture and Fisheries Resources and potentials by those who craft laws and set directions.
I hope our legislators will not be offended by this recommendation, rather this should be taken as a testimony to their critical role in guiding the country through these dire economic times.
There is little doubt that most of our lawmakers, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, have the sincere desire to improve Agriculture and Fisheries in the country.
But there is also very little doubt that most of them do not have a profound understanding and knowledge of the problems besetting Agriculture and the practical things which need to be undertaken to increase productivity to achieve food sufficiency, create jobs and boost the country’s economy.
Our legislators and policy makers must have deep institutional knowledge of Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries.
They must know by heart such important details as land area, agricultural areas, fishing resources and crops with the greatest production potentials.
Sadly, most of them rely on individual consultants and advisers whose inputs oftentimes are their own views and interpretation of the issues rather than outcomes of institutional researches and practical solutions.
Take for instance the recent legislative hearings on Agriculture where the use of Hybrid seeds was belittled in favor of inbred seeds and where the use of compost was recommended instead of the precise inorganic soil stimulants and fertilizers.
These two episodes, aired on national television, were embarrassing proofs of the lack of profound understanding of agriculture by some of our legislators.
A deep appreciation of the problems confronting the Agriculture and Fisheries sectors by our lawmakers would result in effective legislations.
A strong and vibrant Agriculture and Fisheries Sector will address most of the challenges that the country faces now – Food Inflation, Job Generation, Huge Trade Imbalance and a Struggling Economy.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!