×
  • November 08, 2019 , 03:56pm

Agri sector slumps due to continuous government neglect

Agri sector slumps due to continuous government neglect

lito-ocampo_013-copy-848x478By IBON Media
Even prior to rice liberalization, the country has become increasingly dependent on food importsLong-time government neglect and low prioritization has put the agriculture sector in a chronic crisis, said research group IBON. The group said that this is in line with government’s advancement of neoliberal policies favoring local and foreign big business. The Duterte government continues this by giving minimal support to the agriculture sector.IBON said that declining share in gross domestic product and agricultural productivity per capita, increasing import dependence, rising trade deficit, and widespread rural poverty are signs that this crisis is worsening.

The agriculture sector’s share in the economy has shrunk from over 40% in the 1960s to less than 10% in 2018.

Agricultural productivity per capita peaked at Php7,862 in 1981, declined, and then was in a period of recovery from 1999-2008. But agricultural productivity per capita again fell to Php7,052 in 2018, noted the group.

(Read story…)