Farming is among the poorest sectors in the country, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) said.
NAPC head lawyer Noel Felongco, in an interview with DWIZ 882 on Tuesday, June 14, said that this is rooted in the lack of farmers' ownership of their own land for farming.
"Mayroon tayong agrarian reform, nabibigyan sila ng titulo sa lupa ngunit kulang pa rin po 'yung support services ng ating gobyerno (We have an agrarian reform where they are being given titles of lands but the support services of the government is still not enough)," he added.
"Iyong post-harvest facilities po kulang na kulang (The post-harvest facilities are really insufficient)," Felongco added.
He also pointed out that farmers tend to become easy targets for loan sharks since that is where they go to whenever they need money or funds for their farming.
"Iyong agrikultura natin ngayon sa Pilipinas, lalo na yung rice farmers natin, ay kawawang-kawawa 'yan dahil 'yan yung negosyo na palugi (The agriculture in the Philippines, especially our rice farmers, are extremely pitiful because that is the business which is nearing bankruptcy)," said Felongco referring to the farmers' small income during harvest season which is contradictory to the high production cost during and after farming.
Farmers and fishermen leave the rural areas because of this to try their luck in the cities, Felongco added. (Luisa Cabato)