POLICY PROPOSAL TO ENACT A MAGNA CARTA FOR YOUNG FARMERSA proposal by PAKISAMA (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka) February 2014

Sixty per cent (60%) of the worlds rural population is made up of young men and women who are often unemployed, or work informally in unpaid, low skilled, insecure and hazardous jobs.[endnoteRef:2] Family farmers are the biggest food producers and investors in their own farms, play a decisive role in the sustainable production of 70% of the worlds food and in the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. In 2011, the United Nations declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) with the theme Feeding the World /Caring for the Earth. [2: Esther Penunia, Innovations to attract youth to agriculture, Asian Farmers Association (AFA), 2014]

At an international meeting organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Developing public policies towards sustainable family farming, the representative from the Philippines Department of Agriculture noted that family farms constitute a majority of the farming system in the Philippines, and that the IYFF should bring about concrete change at local, regional and global levels. The Philippine action plan should include: (i) development of a comprehensive set of laws, regulations, and programs that focuses on family farms, to the extent possible, at all government levels; (ii) provision of sufficient public funds, incentives and support measures to family farms, e.g., infrastructure, credit and insurance; (iii) provision of assistance in the promotion of trade, investment and marketing of family farm products; and (iv) strengthening of family farm organizations through government research and extension work, trainings, and related capacity building measures.[endnoteRef:3] [3: DA Assistant Secretary Romeo Recide, Developing public policies towards sustainable family farming side event - summary and outcomes, October 8, 2013, FAO]

Young farmers in the Philippines, who form an integral part of the family farm, are fast becoming an endangered species. Sen. Francis Pangilinan, then Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, remarked in 2011 that Filipino farmers growing old and young people not replacing them in the fields was an unseen crisis which could threaten the country's food security in the next few years.[endnoteRef:4] Farmers and fishers are getting too old for what is back-breaking work, and their children not keen on taking over for either lack of interest or incentive or both. [4: Kristine L. Alave, Pangilinan sees food crisis as farmers getting fewer, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 17, 2011; Kristine L. Alave, Philippines is running out of farmers, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 8, 2011]

The prevailing notion is that rural youth are not enticed to enter the agricultural sector as they do not see farming as a way out of poverty their grandfathers were poor, their fathers were poor, they will remain poor. The younger generation who saw their parents grow old and poor in farming do not see agriculture as a lucrative career.[endnoteRef:5] Many of the youth today are also said to shun farming because of its perceived hardships, borne by the fact that many farming families are among the countrys poorest, arguing that their parents are farmers, so why do they have to go back to the farming. They are witness to high costs of agricultural inputs but low prices of produce.[endnoteRef:6] (See Box 1 on statistics related to crisis of aging Filipino farmers.) [5: Remarks by Sen. Pangilinan, In: Kristine L. Alave, Pangilinan sees food crisis as farmers getting fewer, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 17, 2011] [6: Remarks of KASC president Dr. Eduardo Bagtang, In: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ]

To help resolve this crisis situation, PAKISAMA (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka) -- consisting of 33,000 men and women farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples and youth from rural communities in 42 provinces nationwide -- is putting forward this proposal to enact a Magna Carta for Young Farmers. PAKISAMA believes that the youth can be attracted to agriculture if they see meaning, income opportunities, as well as feel a sense of pride in farming. The youth needs training, as well as the presence of mentors, coaches, motivators, and need to be provided with basic resources especially land, capital and equipments to make farming less tedious work.

The Magna Carta for Young Farmers shall be a comprehensive human rights law to promote the social and economic well-being of young farmers, develop their skills and capabilities, and eliminate discrimination against them by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting their rights, especially the more marginalized. The Magna Carta shall define discrimination against young farmers as: (i) any age-based distinction, exclusion, or restriction which has the effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by young farmers of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field; (ii) any act or omission, including by law, policy, administrative measure, or practice, that directly or indirectly excludes or restricts young farmers in the recognition and promotion of their rights and their access to and enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges; (iii) discrimination compounded by or intersecting with other grounds, status or condition such as gender, ethnicity, poverty or religion. Moreover, the Magna Carta for Young Farmers should take cognizance of the situation and aspirations of young Filipino farmers, enhance their roles, address their challenges, and harmonize existing and proposed policies that affect the plight of young farmers.

Box 1. Some statistics related to aging Filipino farmers.

Aging Filipino farmers. The average age of the Filipino farmer is 57; assuming an average life span of 70, the Philippines may reach a critical shortage of farmers in just 15 years.[endnoteRef:7] Other estimates of average farmers age are 55 and 59 years.[endnoteRef:8] In Calabarzon, for instance, 65% of farmers are 41 years and older.[endnoteRef:9] The situation in Leyte is worse with 77% of farmers 40 years and older.[endnoteRef:10] Young farmers aged 39 and below account for only 12.3% of farmers in major commodity sectors.[endnoteRef:11] The countrys situation is similar to other countries in Asia; in Japan, the average of farmers is 70.[endnoteRef:12] [7: According to Dr. Asterio Saliot, Director of the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), In: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013] [8: Based on study by Central Mindanao University (CMU), the average age of the Filipino farmer is 55 years old; Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Dante Delima pegged the average age at 59. In: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [9: Rossana Marie Amongo et al, Mechanizing Philippine Agriculture for Food Sufficiency, Paper presented in the UNAPCAEM and FAO Joint Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Asia Bangkok, Thailand, 8 - 9 December 2011. ] [10: Based on statistics from Department of Agriculture, In: Farmers Getting Older, Land smaller, Manila Bulletin, September 8, 2013] [11: Walden Bello and Risa Bernabe, Putting agriculture in the center of P-Noy's development strategy and agenda, Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, November 2011] [12: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ]

Declining number of agricultural workers. Despite being a predominantly agricultural country, there are now only about 12 million Filipino farmers in a total population of 100 million. And despite a soaring population, the available labor in the farm has been declining over the years; since 2007, the rate of decline is 1.5% per year.[endnoteRef:13] In 2008, Filipinos employed in the agriculture sector accounted for 35% of the countrys labor force; in 2010, this went down to only 33%.[endnoteRef:14] In 2012, the agriculture sector lost the most number of workers (624,000) out of the total employment, from 12.47 million in 2012 to 11.84 million in 2013.[endnoteRef:15] Farm owners in some places in Central Luzon are reportedly already having difficulty in finding farm workers during the time of planting and harvest.[endnoteRef:16] Agricultural liberalization has also resulted in traditional crops and livestock products being marginalized by foreign imports, and the country converted from a net importer to a chronic net exporter of agricultural products with concomitant decrease in employment in agriculture.[endnoteRef:17] [13: Data from Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), In: Rappler, Fewer Pinoys get agri jobs, October 27, 2012] [14: Data from Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), In: Rossana Marie Amongo et al, Mechanizing Philippine Agriculture for Food Sufficiency, Paper presented in the UNAPCAEM and FAO Joint Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Asia Bangkok, Thailand, 8 - 9 December 2011. ] [15: Estimates from Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the National Statistics Office (NSO), In: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [16: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [17: Walden Bello, The battle for food sovereignty in the Philippines: Lessons for the Global South, International Development Studies Working Paper Series 002, St Marys University, November 2013]

Young people leaving rural areas. Nationwide, the younger generation is leaving rural areas, depleting the pool of potential agricultural workers. Most rural families want their children to pursue more lucrative jobs in commercial centers, as farming is largely associated with poverty.[endnoteRef:18] In Ifugao, the world-famous rice terraces are being abandoned and are deteriorating as increasing numbers of young people are migrating toward urban areas. A 2003 study in Cagayan Province found that the rate of out-migration is higher among farming than non-farming households, in rainfed villages with lower adoption of modern varieties, lower rice yields, lower cropping intensity indices and where tenancy prevails.[endnoteRef:19] More female members, especially daughters, migrate than male, and more sons -- rather than husbands and other male family members -- tend to migrate. In some areas, rural youth are also being enticed to work in the booming call center industry in the cities where incomes can be 4x higher than unskilled work.[endnoteRef:20] More recently, young farmers are being recruited to work in agricultural farms in Japan which reportedly needs some 200,000 young farmers who should be high school graduates, 18 years old and above; if successful, they can earn at least $1,200 (P53,000) a month in Japan.[endnoteRef:21] [18: According to Jocelyn Alma Badiola, executive director of COCAFM, In: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013] [19: Joyce S. Luis and Thelma R. Paris, Socio-demographic & agricultural factors affecting out-migration in selected rice farming villages in Cagayan Province, Philippines, Philippine Journal of Crop Science, 2003,Vol.28No.1(pp.49-60)] [20: MST News, Startup trains youth for BPO jobs, August 5, 2013; Kickstart Ventures' lone brick-and-mortar startup trains rural youth for gainful employment, August 6, 2013] [21: 200,000 farmers needed in Japan, Panay News (no date)]

Waning interest in agricultural courses. Enrollment of agriculture and related courses offered primarily in state universities and colleges has steadily declined due to perceived low employment opportunities after employment by both students and parents. Students prefer office-based jobs; even a farmer would not advise his children to enroll in agriculture.[endnoteRef:22] There is also a perception among students that those taking up agriculture are inferior; students from other disciplines look down on those who take BS Agriculture, as if they are second class citizens in colleges or universities.[endnoteRef:23] Moreover, Philippine agriculture education is said to have a bias for science or research rather than the practical application of scientific agriculture.[endnoteRef:24] At the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), enrollment in agriculture courses declined from 51% in 1980 to only 4.7% by 2012.[endnoteRef:25] Even offering free tuition has not helped, as in the case of Kalinga-Apayao State College (KASC) where enrollment went down by 25-40% from six years ago.[endnoteRef:26] The decline in enrollment is feared to lead to a shortage of capable professionals in the agriculture sector, which will endanger the countrys food supply, particularly at a time when the government is pursuing a roadmap for self-sufficiency in rice and other staples by 2016.[endnoteRef:27] SEARCA, or Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, has identified other challenges to agricultural human resources across Asia -- lack of student attraction to agriculture careers, agriculture graduates not well-equipped with knowledge, skills and attitudes to compete globally, aging agriculture research and academic staff, high staff turnover, low budget for research and training activities, outdated curricula, outmoded research and academic facilities.[endnoteRef:28] [22: Rappler, Fewer Pinoys get agri jobs, October 27, 2012; Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013; Philippine News Agency (PNA), Farmers Getting Older, Land smaller, In: Manila Bulletin, September 8, 2013] [23: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [24: Gina Mission, Diploma in Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Reinventing agricultural education, 1999] [25: According to Dr. Jesusita Coladilla of UPLBs School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), In: Rappler, Fewer Pinoys get agri jobs, October 27, 2012; Gina Mission, Diploma in Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Reinventing agricultural education, 1999] [26: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [27: Rappler, Fewer Pinoys get agri jobs, October 27, 2012] [28: Orti Despuez, Migration of rural youth to urban centers may compromise food security Searca, InterAksyon.com, February 12, 2013; Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013]

Farmers/fishers are among countrys poorest. The decline in number of may be due to the fact that they are among the poorest sector, and the agriculture sector pays farmers so little. In 2009, the countrys poverty incidence was pegged at 26.5%, and highest among fishermen and farmers at 41.4% and 36.7%, respectively.[endnoteRef:29] In 2010, about 70% of the rural poor are farmers and fishermen.[endnoteRef:30] Moreover, agriculture receives the lowest average daily basic wage and salary compared to non-agriculture sectors.[endnoteRef:31] The average daily wage of a farmer is $6 (approx P240) versus the national average of $10 (approx P400).[endnoteRef:32] [29: Data from National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB), In: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [30: Based on BAS data, In: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013] [31: Based on the Labor Force Survey by National Statistics Office (NSO), In: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ] [32: Based on BAS data, In: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013]

Low education level. It is no surprise then that the average education level of a farmer is grade five.[endnoteRef:33] A Centro Saka study also noted that more than half of farmers in six commodities surveyed were not able to reach high school or college.[endnoteRef:34] [33: According to ATI Director Dr. Saliot, In: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013] [34: Walden Bello and Risa Bernabe, Putting agriculture in the center of P-Noy's development strategy and agenda, Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, November 2011]

Smaller farm sizes. Many Filipino farmers are small landholders tilling an average of 2.5 ha of land each.[endnoteRef:35] However, farmers lands are getting smaller as a result of dividing the land among their heirs[endnoteRef:36] and because agricultural land faces competing demands, the most pressing of which is conversion to non-agricultural (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial) purposes.[endnoteRef:37] Average farm sizes in Regions X, II and VI decreased in 1991-2002, with land planted to coconut decreasing phenomenally; the decline is attributed to land conversion, increase in population of farm cultivators and improper implementation of agrarian reform program (CARP).[endnoteRef:38] [35: According to data at the Senate hearing on the Department of Agricultures 2012 budget, In: Kristine L. Alave, Philippines is running out of farmers, Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 8, 2011 ] [36: According to DA regional technical director for research and regulations Wilson Cerbito, Philippine News Agency (PNA), Farmers Getting Older, Land smaller, In: Manila Bulletin, September 8, 2013] [37: Paula Monina G. Collado et al, Characteristics of Farm Holdings: Evidence from the PhilippinesCensus of Agriculture, SEARCA and NSO, 2013] [38: Paula Monina G. Collado et al, Characteristics of Farm Holdings: Evidence from the PhilippinesCensus of Agriculture, SEARCA and NSO, 2013]

Increasing food insecurity. Converting agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses I unfortunate as the Philippines needs more farmlands to feed a growing population now estimated at 100 million. According to IRRI, or International Rice Research Institute, about 4.5 million hectares of the countrys agricultural land is planted to rice. One hectare planted to rice feeds 20 Filipinos, which means that the Philippines needs around 50,000 hectares more to feed all 100 million Filipinos.[endnoteRef:39] In 2010, the Philippines imported 2.45 million tons of rice, making it the biggest rice importing country worldwide that year. The world food crisis of 2008 taught Filipinos that while money may be available to import rice, rice-exporting countries are not necessarily willing to sell the rice to us.[endnoteRef:40] [39: HB 478 (Zoning and Land Use Policy Act) filed by AKBAYAN Rep. Arlene Bag-ao] [40: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013]

Aspirations, roles, credo of PAKISAMA young farmers

On February 2-11, 2014, PAKISAMA held nationwide consultations with young farmers between the ages 18 and 40 years in 11 provinces nationwide (Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Mindoro Oriental, Bohol, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur). The PAKISAMA young farmers come from farming or fishing families whose parents are either small landholders, or landless tenants or leaseholders. They are engaged in farming on a full- or part-time basis, finding other seasonal jobs to augment family incomes. Many are out of school youth; a few are enrolled in college with courses not necessarily related to agriculture. Most of them are active members of farmers. Some come from indigenous and Muslim communities. The large majority express deep care and respect for the environment and many are practitioners of integrated organic farming. Young women farmers are just as active in farmwork as men.

Box 2. Story of Ruvie, 1st year high school from Mindoro OrientalNais kong maging isa sa mga halimbawa ng mga kabataan na natuto o may kaalaman ukol sa pagsasaka. Sinimulan ko ito sa mga pagtatanong sa sarili ko, How to plant rice? paano mag-alaga, mula sa paghahanda sa malapad na lupain tungo sa paghahanda ng mga butil ng palay, ang pagbabantay at pag-aalaga hanggang sa pagdating ng araw ng pag-aani.Iba na ang panahon noon at ngayon. Tayo, ikaw, sila, maaari nating ibalik ang paraan ng pag-aani at pag-aalaga ng palayan noon na di dapat paghahandaan ang gastos sa pag-aalaga ng palayan.

Aspirations. As with any other young person, young farmers aspire to develop themselves and realize their full potential and improve their lives through education and hard work. Those who are students want to finish their courses first so that they become more productive members of society. Young farmers also want to be able to participate and be given their own voice in governance and decision-making processes, especially when related to their own concerns. A majority expressed pride at being a farmer, a proud magsasaka and a love for farming, saying they grew up and were able to go to school because of farming. They hope to become role models to encourage other youth to engage in farming, rather than waste time playing computer games, or engage in gambling or other useless activities. They believe that young farmers are the countrys hope. [Box 2, story of Ruvie, a young woman farmer from Mindoro Oriental.]

Roles. The PAKISAMA young farmers identified the various roles they play in family farms: all around farmworkers oftentimes assigned the more physically-demanding tasks, family helpers, supplemental income earners, merchandisers, acting farm managers, small entrepreneurs, knowledge-bearers, eco-warriors (Box 3).

Box 3. Roles of young farmers in the family farm

All-around farmworkers. Young farmers perform all-around work in the farm, oftentimes assigned the more laborious tasks, e.g. nag-aani, nag-araro, nagtatanim/talok, nagpapatubig sa palayan, nag-aabono, nagbabantay, nagbubuhat/estiba, nagpapaupa in their parents or other peoples farms. They play important roles in all segments of production from land preparation to harvest to marketing. They are present in all the commodity sectors.

Family helpers. Young farmers are side by side with their parents in farm work; when they have families of their own, they still need to help in their parents farm. Young men and women farmers help in the house chores.

Supplemental income earners. Young famers also play a major role in augmenting their familys income, by working in odd jobs (e.g. tricycle drivers, electricians, welders). Those with widowed mothers need to take on the job of their fathers to support the family.

Merchandisers. For those who do not rely on traders, young farmers are merchandisers and entrusted with marketing and find buyers for their familys produce. Some of them, however, lament that they are not given a fair share of the income.

Acting farm managers. Many young farmers act as farm managers, supervisors or caretakers of their parents or other peoples farms.

Small entrepreneurs. Young farmers are small entrepreneurs and decision-makers who put in capital or form joint ventures to increase the productivity of their farms.

Knowledge-bearers (tagaturo, tagapagmulat sa kaalaman). Young farmers take on the role of extension workers within the family and community. They transfer whatever knowledge or technology theyve learned to family members. They strive to study or research on new farming technologies which they can then share with others.

Eco-warriors. Young farmers are staunch advocates of environmental protection. They know from experience that degraded land has low productivity and strive to become sustainable farming practitioners. They are concerned that in many areas, organic and diversified farming techniques are no longer practiced.

Credo. As a PAKISAMA Young Farmers Assembly, the young farmers declared that they will work to promote the recognition of young farmers as a distinct sector with human rights and aspirations. They recognize their responsibilities to improve the agricultural sector where they belong. Expressing their pride in farming, they affirm that agriculture takes care of their familys needs, feeds their communities, contributes to the rural development, and nurtures the environment. They will advocate for farmers rights to land, waters, forests and seeds, and promote sustainable agriculture. They strive to actualize their human potentials and achieve a balance in their relations to him/herself, their family, organization, society, environment, and a Higher Being (see Box 4).

Box 4. Declarasyon ng mga Kabataang Magsasaka ng PAKISAMAKAMI ANG MGA KABATAANG MAGSASAKA NG PAKISAMA, BABAE AT LALAKI. ISUSULONG NAMIN ANG PAGKILALA NG MGA KABATAANG MAGSASAKA BILANG ISANG SEKTOR NA MAY MGA KARAPATAN AT MGA SARILING PANGARAP. KINIKILALA NAMIN NA MALAKI ANG AMING RESPONSIBILIDAD SA PAGPAPATULOY AT PAGPAPALAGO NG SEKTOR NG PAGSASAKA. IKINARARANGAL NAMIN ANG PAGSASAKA - ITO AY BUMUBUHAY SA AMIN AT AMING PAMILYA, NAGPAPAKAIN SA ATING MGA PAMAYANANAN, NAGPAPAUNLAD SA ATING KANAYUNAN, AT NANGANGALAGA SA ATING KALIKASAN. KASAMA KAMI SA PAGSULONG NG KARAPATAN SA LUPA, KATUBIGAN, KAGUBATAN AT MGA BINHI, AT SA PAGPAPALAGANAP NG LIKAS-KAYANG PAGSASAKA. HINAHANGAD NAMIN NA MAGING TUNAY NA MAKATAO AT TUNAY NA PAGPAPAKAKATAO NA MAY PAGSA-ALANG-ALANG SA BALANSE NG AMING UGNAYAN SA SARILI, PAMILYA, LIPUNAN, SAMAHAN, KALIKASAN AT DAKILANG LUMIKHA.

Problems of young farmers

Young farmers is one of the most neglected basic sector in Philippine society, with no land to till, non-livable farmworkers wages, no access to education and trainings, stiff requirements for scholarships, no financial support funds and specific programs, lack of cash for work programs, lack of incentives and other support mechanisms (e.g. price of palay), existence of child labor, early exposure to chemical farming, lack of leadership, no venue for participation in governance, no recognition, lack of self-esteem. Young farmers are also beset with problems related to the sorry state of the countrys agricultural sector.

Access to land. Although access to land for women and the youth has improved, young farmers remain vulnerable; many of them do not own land that they can cultivate. Their parents may have lost their lands due to indebtedness. They have no money to lease land, so they sell their labor at low and exploitative wages (pakyaw). With diminishing farmlands, many soon join the ranks of the rural unemployed who then migrate to the cities in search of a better life. Moreover, under the agrarian reform law, young people can now apply to be beneficiaries but they must first be considered an independent household unit and not dependents of their parents. The law also provides equal rights to land for women who can now apply on behalf of family unit. However, early research found that few women and young people demand access to land for themselves as individuals; they are driven by the family unit which is traditionally represented by male head of household.[endnoteRef:41] If women had the same access as men to productive resources in developing countries, the FAO estimates that the increase in their farm yields would bring a 2.5-4% rise in agricultural production.[endnoteRef:42] Compounding the situation is the slow pace of agrarian reform (Box 5) and landgrabbing and forcible acquisition of lands that rightfully belong to small farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples and their heirs. [41: Socorro Gultiano et al, Population dynamics, land availability, and adapting land tenure systems: Philippines, A case study, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Committee for International Cooperation in National Research in Demography (CICRED), 2003] [42: IFAD, Feeding future generations: Young rural people today prosperous, productive farmers tomorrow, February 2011]

Box 5. Slow pace of agrarian reform

In the Philippines, the rich 20% own 80% of the land, while the poorer 80% own only 20% of the land; most big landowners are also local politicians and elite families.[endnoteRef:43] Generally-speaking, improved tenure and secure land ownership give farmers greater motivation to work, adopt more production technologies, implement permanent farm improvements and assume greater risks. Over 60% of Filipinos also say agrarian reform was the main reason for peace in the countryside. The countrys agrarian reform program has been extended twice, but much of the remaining lands to be redistributed are private lands, with strong landlord resistance; coconut lands are 60% of agricultural lands left uncovered. Although agrarian reform farmer beneficiaries have higher incomes than non-beneficiaries, however, they are still just slightly above poverty line. [endnoteRef:44] [43: Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Lessons and Insights on Access to Land: The Philippine Experience, Presented at the International Land Coalition (ILC) -AoM, 23 April 2009, Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal] [44: Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Lessons and Insights on Access to Land: The Philippine Experience, Presented at the International Land Coalition (ILC) -AoM, 23 April 2009, Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal]

Low incomes, hunger. Agriculture no longer provides adequate incomes due to the rising cost of farm inputs; after paying off debts not much is left from the harvest. Lack of farm planning also bring prices down, as when everybody in the community plant the same crop at the same time. Young farmers need to look for other jobs to augment meager income from farming. For lands planted to non-food monocultures (e.g. sugarcane), young farmers and their families experience hunger nothing to eat for a year.

Underinvestment, lack of services. In 2011, although agriculture contributes about 11% to the GDP, government investment in the sector was only 4% of the national budget, and roughly 24% lower than the previous year.[endnoteRef:45] Government policies have provided few incentives to farmers and have a bias for white-collar jobs.[endnoteRef:46] This has resulted in a pathetic lack of extension and support services to young farmers and their parents/elders, e.g. capital, seeds, irrigation, marketing. Young farmers do not have financial resources in order to buy expensive inputs since they are just starting out. Some who have land or access to land still need access to financial institutions outside of usurers and traders, or they fall into the same debt trap like their parents/elders before them. At harvest time, young farmers find it difficult to bring their produce to markets due to lack of farm to market roads, or where available, transport costs are prohibitive. Young farmers also need to be trained in marketing skills and techniques. Oftentimes, pricing policy is dictated by traders or middlemen, and young farmers have weak bargaining power and do not get a fair price for their products. [45: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013] [46: IRIN, Filipino farmers - a dying breed? February 26, 2013]

Patronage, corruption. If government has programs or services for farmers, young farmers bewail that these do not reach the intended beneficiaries. Extension and IEC services are weak, irrigation facilities, support for seeds are inadequate. At the local level, patronage system (palakasan) is prevalent and color-coded, where only political allies are given priority as beneficiaries. In some instances, recruitment of extension workers are not merit-based and hence they lack the technical expertise that young farmers need. Moreover, a large chunk of agricultural budgets finds its way into the pockets of unscrupulous officials and private individuals in devious schemes of large-scale corruption and plunder.

Unsustainable agriculture. Young farmers express concern that their parents/elders have become dependent on chemical-based farming which they know need expensive and synthetic inputs, entail higher costs but less income and more degraded and poisoned farmlands. Young farmers wish to go back to more sustainable organic farming, but at the same time fear low productivity during the conversion stage. They are also concerned that so-called instant farming and the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) may also result in farmers becoming lazier, or in instant calamities. It may be noted that although an organic agriculture law is now in place, the government has become more liberal in granting licenses to GMOs; bt corn, for instance, now has 750,000 hectares of land devoted to it despite little knowledge of its impact on the environment. [endnoteRef:47] [47: Walden Bello, The battle for food sovereignty in the Philippines: Lessons for the Global South, International Development Studies Working Paper Series 002, St Marys University, November 2013]

Climate change adaptation. Engaging in agriculture is fraught with high risks, including the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions related to global warming and climate change. Young farmers have expressed the need for knowledge on climate change adaptation and how to improve resilience of their family farms. The Philippines is ranked as one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, experiencing an average of 20 typhoons annually. Major typhoons, landslide, floods can easily wipe out farmers earnings, and crop insurance and social protection is sorely lacking. When super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) smashed into Visayas in November 2013, the damage to crops was estimated at P27 billion - with the coconut sector bearing the most damage - and the incomes and livelihoods of more than 200,000 farming and fishing households affected.[endnoteRef:48] [48: Pia Ranada, P9B needed for agri, fisheries in Yolanda areas, Rappler, January 8, 2014]

Indigenous farming traditions gradually eroded. Indigenous youth are also saddened that rituals they traditionally perform before planting or during harvest, are slowly fading away and no longer practiced by young farmers.

Farm mechanization a boon and bane. Although mechanization seeks to attract more young people and make farming less laborious, young farmers caution that inappropriate mechanization displaces young farmers and their incomes, as in the case of dambuhala tractors that could easily displace about a hundred or so farmworkers.

Indebtedness, bonded labor. Many farmers are heavily indebted to landlords and usurers and make their childrens labor pay for the debts that they owe (pambayad-utang).

Discrimination. Young farmers feel discriminated against and treated as inferior due to widely-held notion that agriculture is only for the illiterate or those who drop out from school. Go back to the province and plant kamote is what teachers usually tell students who fare poorly in school.[endnoteRef:49] Parents/elders reinforce this notion when they use farming as a form of punishment for children who do not do well in school (diyan ka na lang sa bukid just stay in the farm), or when they advise their children to take up courses other than agriculture - do not be like me, a lowly farmer (huwag kang tumulad sa akin na isang magsasaka lang). Discrimination also takes the form of being given lesser priority in government programs for farmer-beneficiaries, or when parents/elders refuse to give the youth more responsibilities due to their age - belittling what young people know (minamahina ang kaalaman ng mga kabataan). Young women farmers are also discriminated when farming is only seen as mens work, their contribution minimized, and programs for young farmers largely targeting only men. [49: Conrad M. Cario, Aging Filipino farmers to affect food security, Manila Times, June 22, 2013 ]

Low self-esteem. The discrimination and lowly treatment of farming generally result in low self-esteem and lack of confidence among young farmers -- Farming is the only option for people like me who have not gone to school (Ang pagsasaka ay isang karaniwang hanap buhay para sa mga di nakapag-aral, ito lamang ang paraan sa mga kagaya namin na hindi nakapag-aral).

Neglect. The belief that the younger generation is not interested in farming may be the reason for the almost zero efforts to engage the youth in agriculture, particularly those in the 20-35 years age bracket. If programs do exist, there is no serious effort to reach out to the intended beneficiaries as most of the PAKISAMA young farmers consulted expressed that they have not heard nor availed of any program for the young farmers. Note is taken here of an extreme case of high suicide rate among young vegetable farmers (15-24 years) in Benguet wherein a research team from Benguet State University (BSU) attributed to pressing problems in the context of cash crop farming, e.g., market risks, failing vegetable market, degradation of land, full agricultural trade liberalization, increasing chemical dependency, acquisition of farm inputs and basic disregard for health. The BSU team recommends the institutionalization of school counseling centers that are accessible and friendly to the youth, the conduct of community integration activities and a restriction of chemicals being disposed for farming communities.[endnoteRef:50] [50: Maria Elena Catajan, Why Benguet youth commits suicide? Sun Star Baguio, September 16, 2013]

Recognition, identity. Young farmers want to be recognized and identified as a separate basic sector, with their distinct set of rights and aspirations, and a voce and participation in governance and decision-making processes.

Young people are interested in farming

In 2012, an award-winning research by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) challenged the widely-held perception on youth wanting to leave the farm, and found that farmers children see farming as a wealth multiplier, a key to achieving their dreams for their family, and a way to help poor relatives. [endnoteRef:51] The youth care about the livelihood that had supported their family. Despite pressures to go to cities or work abroad, they expressed a desire to stay connected to agriculture in various capacities if these options were available. They expressed a heart for the farming family and vision for the farm; many of them said once a farmer, always a farmer. Many of the youth wanted to buy land someday so they could employ their poor relatives. The research then suggested that the rural youth should be seen as future rice farming investors who can be able to provide capital investment. [51: Really, they dont want to farm?: Challenging existing orthodoxies on youth perceptions on rice farming in the Philippines, In: Philippine Rice Research Institute, Engage youth in farming - study urges, 9 May 2012; CSC alumnus wins best paper for research on Filipino youth, Centre for Communication and Social Change, University of Queensland, Australia; Philippine News Agency, 'Once a farmer...' Despite migration options, study says farm youths want to stay connected to agri, InterAksyon.com, May 3, 2012; Gian C. Geronimo, Pinoy cited for best research paper in Malaysia conference, GMA News, January 12, 2013]

The PhilRice research affirms PAKISAMAs own belief that with an enabling policy framework, right incentives and more support services, young Filipino farmers will opt to stay in the family farm and make a decent living from agriculture. PAKISAMA identifies the following key ingredients to attract the youth back to the family farms:

1. MAGNA CARTA FOR YOUNG FARMERS

2. INFORMATION/EDUCATION Agriculture-sensitive Educational Curriculum for Elementary and High Schools Broader scholarships for all agri-related courses/More Information on agriculture

3. LAW ENFORCEMENT Land for young farmers/survey first/inventory/CARPER Organic Agriculture Act Stop Cutting of Trees IPRA Fisheries Code: delineation of municipal waters Bangsamoro Agreement Cocolevy Recovery

4. PARTICIPATION- Young farmers representation in all Agri-Policy-making bodies

5. FINANCING- Access to financial institution:/Credit facility for young farmersa. Direct support: 1,000 per farmerb. Pension for farmers (social protection) - Production Supporta. Input subsidy: seeds/seedlingsb. Community Seed bank - Market Supporta. Facilitate market for young farmers produce

6. PAKISAMA- Promote and protect the interest of young farmers/Empower and strengthen roles of young farmers- Provide capacity-building: a. TRAINING AND SEMINARS: on proper farming, skills enhancement; community-based academy; study tours;b. skills and indigenous knowledge systems inventory- Organize young farmers at the municipality/brgay /national levels- Provide lending facility for agri-supplies

7. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT- Modeling, starting with ones farm, learning farmsa. Help organize young farmers to become responsible farmersb. Help in extension work: promotion of IDOFS, Fertilizer-making, community seed-banking, coconut, market knowledgec. Advocacy/campaign: no plastics and styro; establish Young Farmers Devt council; mas masaya ang pagsasaka

Existing/proposed policies, programs for rural youth/young farmers

Several laws are already in place that provide programs or services for rural youth and young farmers, including the following:

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988. Republic Act (RA) 6657 instituted a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) which covers all agricultural lands, regardless of crop. The retention limit for rice and corn lands is seven hectares; for non-rice and non-corn lands retention limit is five hectares, while each child 15 years old and above and are actually tilling or managing the land can retain three (3) hectares. Eligible beneficiaries are: owner/cultivators; leaseholders granted permanent use rights over the lands; farm workers who rendered service for value as an employee or laborer.[endnoteRef:52] [52: Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Lessons and Insights on Access to Land: The Philippine Experience, Presented at the International Land Coalition (ILC) -AoM, 23 April 2009, Yak & Yeti Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal]

Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1994. RA 8044 defines youth as the critical period in a persons growth and development from the onset of adolescence towards the peak of mature, self-reliant and responsible adulthood, from age of 15 to 30 years.[endnoteRef:53] Youth is categorized as urban / rural, and according to four youth sub-sectors: out-of-school youth, in-school youth, working youth and specific youth groups. The National Youth Commission (NYC) is designated as the main agency responsible for coordinating policies on youth development and formulate the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP). Existing NYC programs include Youth Organizations Registration Program; Government Internship Program (summer work program for students); National Youth Parliament (3-day convention of youth leaders); Local Youth Development Program (establishment of Local Youth Development Councils); Mindanao 2020 (advocacy-training program on culture of peace, human rights and indigenous peoples); Abot-Alam National Program for Out-of-School Youth; National Action Plan for Youth Employment and Migration (local employment and entrepreneurship).[endnoteRef:54] [53: FAO, ILO and UNESCO, Training and Employment Opportunities to Address Poverty Among Rural Youth: A Synthesis Report, 2009] [54: National Youth Commission, NYC Programs and Projects ]

Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA). RA 8435 empowers civil society groups and the local government units (LGUs) to provide area-specific extension services, and supports centers of excellence for world-class agricultural education and research.[endnoteRef:55] [55: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Bright Future Seen in Agriculture (Issue No. 12)]

Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of 2008 (ACEF). RA 9496 provides for an ACEF earmarked for the protection of farmers against unfair trade practices and increased productivity of farmers by providing necessary support services.

Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009. RA 10000 institutes an agriculture, fisheries and agrarian reform credit, insurance and financing system, in which all banking institutions are to set aside at least 25% of their total loanable funds for agriculture and fisheries credit, and at least 10% shall be made available for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. RA 10068 establishes a comprehensive organic agricultural program by promoting and commercializing organic farming practices, cultivation and adoption of production and processing methods.

Farm Mechanization Law of 2013. RA 10601 aims to encourage farmers and fisherfolk to use modern, cost-effective and environment-friendly production, processing and postharvest machines and adopt new technologies to enhance their productivity and income.

Rural Farm School Act of 2013. RA 10618 institutionalizes the creation of rural farm schools as a parallel learning system or alternative delivery mode of secondary education to address the needs of young Filipinos in agricultural or fishing areas, and provides that one public rural farm school be established in every province, using the core high school curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd) with add-on courses focusing on agri-fishery. Public rural farm schools are free from tuition and other fees, and priority is given to relatives of CARP beneficiaries.[endnoteRef:56] [56: Tempo, Rural farm schools in communities, October 15, 2013]

Department of Agriculture (DA) programs. These include the following: 4-H Clubs with Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) as lead agency in promoting ladderized training on agri-entrepreneurship;[endnoteRef:57] Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan, with National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) as lead agency, involves intensive, on-farm agricultural training in cooperation with farmers cooperatives in Japan; Young Farmers Program aims to encourage young agriculture and fisheries graduates (20-39 years) to go into agribusiness and become entrepreneurs;[endnoteRef:58] Farmer-Scientists Training Program with ATI as lead implementor to empower small marginalized farmers to produce more than their subsistence level;[endnoteRef:59] Schools for Practical Agriculture of ATI that develops farmer leaders to become teachers and community extension workers, and their farm lots as schools for hands-on training;[endnoteRef:60] Youth for Agriculture and Fisheries Scholarship Program gives priority to youth from the poorest families and children of farmers;[endnoteRef:61] Adopt a Farm Youth Program to enhance the skills of young farmers through the use of new agricultural technology;[endnoteRef:62] Agri-Pinoy Project launched by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) to encourage the younger generation to get involved in farming, side by side with their parents;[endnoteRef:63] e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries with ATI as lead which makes available e-learning courses for free;[endnoteRef:64] Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank (PinoyRice) launched by PhilRice to provide online assistance to rice farmers, agricultural technicians and extension workers looking for area-specific and local resource materials on farming practices and technologies;[endnoteRef:65] Youth as farm infomediaries launched by PhilRice to mobilize the youth to help their farmer-parents search for rice farming information;[endnoteRef:66] Increasing mechanization to attract young farmers with Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) as lead to mechanize farm work to reduce drudgery.[endnoteRef:67] [57: Beatriz Yanga, ATI Reviews 2012 Performance for 4-H Club Youth Development, January 21, 2013] [58: NAFC, Young Farmers Program; COCAFM, The Young Farmers Program: A Primer, 2011; Program launched to turn graduates into agri entrepreneurs, Philippine Star, May 18, 2003; Marlowe U. Aquino, Young Farmers Program complements the NTCP, BAR Digest, Bureau of Agricultural Research, December 2005] [59: Rita T. dela Cruz, Palace issues EO 710 to adopt FSTP as a national program, Bureau of Agricultural Research Chronicle (BAR), March 2008] [60: Jose Rene C. Gayo, A new paradigm for agricultural extension, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 23, 2012 ] [61: 2011 ATI Annual Report] [62: 2011 ATI Annual Report; Aileen Diaz, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Agri office urges young farmers to join Adopt a Farm Youth program, March 14, 2012 ] [63: Marlo Asis, DA inaugurates food processing, trading center for tobacco farmers, DA-AFIS, 4 November 2013 ] [64: http://e-extension.gov.ph/elearning/ ] [65: Rappler, Online databank offers tips for rice production, November 4, 2013] [66: Manila Bulletin, The youth as farm infomediaries, June 14, 2012; Nikka Garriga, PhilRice taps youth for 'infomediary' campaign, May 31, 2012] [67: Conrad M. Cario, The potential of mechanization in agriculture, Manila Times, June 22, 2013]

Other government programs. These include: TESDAs Agricultural Vocational Course. Under AFMA, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is mandated to provide agri-fishery skills training programs for farmers and fisherfolks;[endnoteRef:68] National Agriculture Organic Board (NOAB). The Organic Agriculture Act and created the NOAB and allocated permanent seats for farmer representatives, coupled with an annual allocation in the national budget to develop and mainstream organic agriculture;[endnoteRef:69] National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). The youth and student sector is one of 14 marginalized sectors represented in the NAPC structure which provides for the sectors participation in policy-making and governance. Other basic sectors are: Farmers and landless rural workers; Artisanal fisher folk; Indigenous people and cultural communities; [68: http://www.tesda.gov.ph/ ] [69: Marlene Ramirez, Developing public policies towards sustainable family farming side event - summary and outcomes, October 8, 2013, FAO]

Pending bills in Congress include the following:

Institutionalizing Young Farmers Program (YFP) will institutionalize the YFP to equip the youth with the necessary technical and entrepreneurial skills, provide them production and marketing support, and aid them in capital formation.[endnoteRef:70] [70: http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/67555988!.pdf ]

Agriculture Scholarship Fund will establish a comprehensive scholarship program focused on agriculture, fisheries, forestry and related courses where about 25% of the curriculum is in the form of on-the-job training or related learning experience.[endnoteRef:71] [71: http://202.57.33.10/plis/data/1734714585!.pdf]

Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act of 2010 calls for the creation of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Agency (PAFEA) to serve as the national apex organization.[endnoteRef:72] [72: Kristine L. Alave, Pangilinan sees food crisis as farmers getting fewer, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 17, 2011]

Global context

The UNs International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) suggested the following set of recommendations to boost food security and reduce poverty by involving young rural people in a dynamic, modern agribusiness sector.[endnoteRef:73] [73: IFAD, Feeding future generations: Young rural people today prosperous, productive farmers tomorrow, February 2011]

Getting young people interested in agriculture. With modern technology, training, communication and information, agriculture becomes attractive to young people.

Changing the way we view agriculture and farmers. Agriculture is not viewed as a respectable activity. There is need to improve the image of agriculture need to view successful young farmers as role models.

Setting new paradigms. First, deal with agriculture based on communities rather than commodities. Second, respect traditional knowledge. A dialogue needs to take place between traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge, with the two being seen as equals. Third, stop talking about developed and developing countries. Countries are developed differently; theyre not developed and undeveloped.

Prioritizing young rural women and men. For many years national planners have not been aware of the presence of the youth sector and simply assumed that young people are still in school, which may be true in urban areas, but not in rural ones. If national planners are ignorant of the contribution being made by young people, they cannot effectively plan for them. It is time that the youth sector is given greater recognition.

Giving young people a voice. If young people dont have access to public policies, they also will not have access to land, nor will they have their needs met. Young people need to be given a voice in decisions affecting their future, and must be allowed to take a more active role in public debates.

Creating opportunities for young women. Design programs and initiatives to ensure that women receive access to land and finance and have the skills to use the land productively.

Making funds available to young farmers. The difficulties faced by young rural women and men in accessing funding are identified as a key barrier to establishing vibrant farm and non-farm enterprises.

The role of governments and development agencies. Policymakers should look at the household or the community members involved in agriculture, and their special opportunities, capacities and constraints. Agencies need to be gender sensitive and youth sensitive too.

Providing young rural women and men with high-quality, relevant education and training.

Giving young women and men access to land.

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