ANGARA PROMOTES BIO-ORGANIC FARMING TO CREATE JOBS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
To offset massive lay-offs due to the Global Financial Crisis

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today called for the institutionalization, development and promotion of bio-organic farming in the Philippines saying that this can create millions of jobs in the countryside in order to address expected lay-offs due to the Global Financial Crisis.

"Our main interest now is to create jobs and provide income because if we follow a business-a-usual mode I think we will all be damned by our people. Even now downsizing and closing of business is already being felt because of the tightness in credit and the lack of spending. And then you add that to the slowing down of remittances which could really hurt the purchasing power of our people," said Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

He added, "Let's just go to small countryside type of research like utilizing rice straws, coconut husk for organic fertilizer because they create more jobs in the countryside. I think our main task is not just simply to produce rice but also to provide income and livelihood in the countryside."

Department of Agriculture statistics showed a 30% drop in fertilizer use by farmers mainly due to the increasing prices of these fertilizers. Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) confirmed that fertilizer prices have risen to Php 1,600 - Php 2,000 per bag from Php 850/bag a year ago,

Because of high farm input costs, the Philippines is likely to miss its full-year palay production target of 17.3 million metric tons by 2.1%. Corn production is also expected to fall short by 5.4% from the country's annual target of 7.4 million metric tons.

"We should be conscious of the need to create livelihood in the countryside. The Department of Agriculture must be aware of its role as demand creator not only supply provider and they can do that by promoting bio-organic farming" Angara added.

Angara shared China's experience in promoting bio-organic farming where they succeeded in creating jobs and livelihood in the countryside. In a Renewable Energy Conference held in China recently, Angara learned that the country practically uses every agricultural waste for cooking, lighting and as renewable source of energy.

Angara, who is a former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 1999-2001, currently chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM). He has authored significant legislations in agriculture including the Agriculture Fisheries and Modernization Act (AFMA), a masterplan for agricultural modernization which other countries in Southeast Asia have adopted.