AGRIKILLTURE : Filipino farmers cry at depleting palay prices

Binangonan farmers exclaimed ‘kaawa na’ as palay prices fell into 12 pesos per kilo from the usual 40-45 pesos selling prices.

In an interview, Celedonio Lorio and Hulipio Beliarin pointed out that the selling prices they earn does not meet the capital money anymore and will soon lead to their income loss.

“Kaawa na, kaawa na. Kasi lugi talaga kami, diba ininterview yung mga taga Nueva Ecija ‘di nila nakukuha yung puhunan nila kasi ang darak mas mura pa sa palay. Mahal pa pagkain ng baboy kaysa sa tao,” Lorio stressed.

He also stated that their capital costs up to 20,000 while the selling prices will be 15,000 and for that penury is inevitable.

The farmer also blamed the administration for their insignificant actions shown towards them pointing out that they are the most impoverished sector.

“Pinaburan nila yung iba pero ang magsasaka iniipit nila dahil banlaki ng puhunan na hindi pwedeng bawiin kapag ang baba ng palay,” he explained.

On the other hand, Binangonan Municipal Agriculturist Miriam Fernan emphasized the agricultural price crisis as one of the causes of the agricultural extinction, stressing today’s farmers as the last generation of the said profession in the country.

“Malaki yung pinuhunan, syempre kapag mababa nila nabenta, hindi nila mababawi yung puhunan nila. So lugi talaga. So pag nalugi sila may posibilidad na sa mga susunod hindi na sila magtanim,” Fernan said.

 She also mentioned that most of the farmers nowadays are elderly and once they retire from the profession there is none who is interested to continue it.

Meanwhile, lack of student’s interest on agriculture threatens the agriculture sector as it might cause food shortage in the future.

“Syempre, kahit gaano katalino ng mga bata, mga engineer, pag wala tayong farmers, wala gaanong pagkain sa ‘tin so kahit anong talino niyo kung hindi kumakain,” Fernan pointed out.

Saying that the agriculture sector is one of the nation’s pillars, Agriculturist Jed Dicdiquin supported Fernan’s statement as there were only few learners interested in farming and there were no one to improve agriculture technologies in the future.

“Dapat bata pa lang, tutunan na nila ang farming, kasi maraming bata ngayong hindi alam ang hitsura ng mga halaman na kinakain nila,” he added.