Agriculture and coops

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

One area that government is watching more closely and intensely today is agriculture, which is a high-risk venture because of its susceptibility to natural calamities, pests, and diseases. People in Negros Oriental have barely recovered from typhoon Sendong that hit last December when super-typhoon Pablo also struck last week.

Surprisingly, agriculture generally grew by 4.1 percent higher in palay and corn production despite the series of storms and incessant rains that hit the country July to September this year. Somehow, agriculture has recovered itself to be one of the reasons for the growth of our economy by 7.1 percent in the third quarter, touted as the highest in Southeast Asia and the second highest in Asia, next to China.

Thus, the latest report of the Land Bank of the Philippines, that prioritizes farmers and fisherfolk among the sectors that it helps, is quite encouraging, especially because traders usually take advantage of them as they are unaware of prices and the dynamics of the market.

Through the existence of cooperatives that these sectors can form themselves into, the Land Bank may provide assistance. In Negros Oriental, the Land Bank has assisted at least 24 cooperatives. These include the Bayawan Multipurpose Agricultural Kilusang Bayan, with almost 6,000 members and a 2006 Timbayayong Awardee in the Search for Outstanding LGU and NGO/PO partnership, and cooperatives with members as low as 68, like a multipurpose cooperative in Sab-ahan, Bais City.

We should have an impressive vision of what the Filipino farmer is really capable of doing if the government is bent on helping boost the agriculture sector. Through credit programs, we empower agricultural cooperatives to play more active roles in development, make sound decisions, and lead a strong group of people in the countryside.*