FOOD FOR ALL, BY FEEDING FARMERS FIRST (outline)

by LEONARDO Q. MONTEMAYOR
Board Chairman, Federation of Free Farmers
Former Secretary, Department of Agriculture

A. Guiding Principles and Policy Objectives

1. Constitution and Laws (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, Magna Carta of Small Farmers,
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, Fisheries Code, and others.)

2. “Modernization and industrialization of agriculture, with full implementation of agrarian

reform, natural resources and fisheries reform, as keys to achieve food security, job
creation, poverty eradication, and balanced rural - urban development.” (Source:
Katipunan 10-Point Program of Government).

B. Agriculture and Fisheries Sector Situationer

1. Sector accounts for 30% of labor force, consisting mostly of some 10 million small farmers (3
hectares or less), farm workers, municipal fisherfolk and other small-scale producers.

2. Diminishing share in GNP (less than 10%); but taken together with agro-based industries,
contribution is 25%. (Yearly share of sector in national government budget is less than 2%.)

3. Low productivity and inefficient transport/shipping/marketing of farm products have

resulted in low incomes for farmers, and shortages in local supply and high prices for
consumers. Philippines is generally a food importing country.

4. Sustainability of production is threatened by degradation of resource base (soils and water

sources, forests and other natural habitats) and climate change.

5. Result is widespread poverty. Three out of every four poor Filipinos are in rural areas.
Limited number and quality of job opportunities. Hence, big development disparity
between rural and urban areas, and mass exodus to urban centers remains unabated.

C. Basic Elements of Food Security

For everyone to enjoy safe and nutritious food at all times, food must be:

1. Adequate and available (sustainable production, reduced losses, proper eating habits).

2. Accessible (proper logistics, storage, transport/shipping, distribution systems).

3. Affordable (consumers’ income, product pricing).

D. Lessons and New Impetus from Pandemic (World Food Program warning of famine situation in
2021)

1. Self-reliance/self-sufficiency as primordial objective for Local and National Economies.

2. Keep supply chain short.

3. Localize production, from the farm household level, then outwards to the community,
barangay, municipality and province.

4. Given our archipelagic geography, each island should be made food-secure.

E. Ensuring Food and Income-Secure Farm Households and Rural Communities First

1. Target farm household income of P 40,000 monthly.

2. Each farm household must be self-sufficient in food items that will provide for its members’
basic protein, carbohydrate and other dietary needs.

3. FAITH and Bahay Kubo – based production of vegetables, root crops, livestock, etc. (photos
of household gardening and Canlaon FFF upland fishpond)

4. Farm and community level processing and consumption of agricultural produce. In coconut
areas -- coconut water, milk, sugar, syrup, vinegar, virgin oil and others. (FFF Bukod Kopra
brochure)

5. Surplus products to be sold in neighboring barangays and for local public schools’ feeding
programs. (barangay trading post in Lamut, Ifugao)

F. Farmer-Centered, Farm System and Cluster/Group Approach – Reforms Needed

1. Farm systems (vs. crop-based) planning and implementation. (FFF-CIIF OMG coconut farm
development project; Science and Technology-Based Farm with PCAARRD)

2. Appropriate technology

a. “Climate Smart” production systems

- SALT, agro-forestry, “jungle farming” (photos of FFF projects on SALT/rice terraces

in Canlaon City and agro-forestry communities in Getafe, Bohol)
 - Irrigation: rain water harvesting, recycling, recharging of aquifers, use of renewable
energy. (rain water catchment in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; solar-powered irrigation
of Pindangan 2nd Primary MPC, Camiling, Tarlac)

b. Organic/sustainable agriculture - biological pest control; organic fertilizer; MASIPAG

system of farmer-scientists, farm-based certified seeds production, etc. (MASIPAG farm
in Sta. Fe, Leyte ; FFF Keeping Soil Alive brochure)

3. Climate and disaster resiliency

a. Preparedness for extreme weather events/disasters through

resilient crop varieties; surveillance and quick response systems

b. Crop insurance

4. Farm extension and human resource development (from monoculture to diversified

agriculture)

a. Lead role for LGUs and farmers’ organizations (“barefoot technicians” of Pilar, Bohol)

b. Farm field schools, farm planning and budgeting, demonstration farms

c. Agriculture/agri-business courses (senior high school to diploma courses)

5. Credit (meeting total financing needs of small farmers/agricultural sector)

a. Comprehensive financing program needed (not just for production).

b. Reducing risks in small farm lending (strengthening loan guarantee, crop insurance and
other programs).

c. Sustainable lending through cooperatives and other groups/conduits.

d. Strict implementation of Agri-Agra Law.

e. Reform policies/programs of Land Bank, UCPB and others.

f. An agricultural bank or development financing entity for small farmers?

6. Marketing support (alternatives to middle traders/cartels’ control) in a “hyperlocal” or

geographical area, clusters of municipalities, island)

a. Market information

- grains, fruits and vegetables

- seasonality and pricing
 b. Logistics - storage, transport and distribution (farm-to-market)

c. Agri-enterprise financing (post-harvest processing, marketing, logistics)

d. Farmer/farm group-based and market-oriented production and trading

1. Basic scheme: Farmers organized and market-oriented from individual to

group/cluster-based production; scheduled planting and harvesting, and output
quotas for each farmer and cluster

- FFF Clustering Approach to Agro-enterprise Development (slides)

- Kalasag (Nueva Ecija) Farmers Producers Cooperative tie-up with Jollibee ; LGU
technical assistance for post-harvest processing; start-up financing by Peace
and Equity Foundation for refrigerated storage and transport to Jollibee/Chow
King main commissary in San Pedro, Laguna. (sorting of onions by coop
members)

- NORMIN Veggies (Joan Uy, with USAID assistance) - from production planning
and family farm clustering in Bukidnon to transport/shipping via Cagayan de Oro
to Cebu and Metro Manila.

2. Alternative rice trading system -- National Cooperative Marketing Federation

(slides)

G. Other Areas of Concern/National Policies that Impact Agriculture and Food Security

1. Agrarian reform/land tenure security

2. Land and water use policy, land conversion

3. Use of public lands, government reservations, IP lands, idle and/or abandoned lands
4. Agricultural trade policy (application of safeguards, NFA role, and windfall profit-taking by rice
traders and importers)

5. GMOs