The Challenges and Opportunities of Green Farming in the ASEAN Region: Special Focus on the Philippine Experiences Teodoro

C !endo"a# $ Pa%lito ! &illegas## *Teodoro C. Mendoza Faculty of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines os !a"os, College, aguna, Philippines. ecofar#. #ndz$%&&'g#ail.co# ** Pa(lito M. )illegas, *+ner,-ntrepreneur, )illegas *rganic and .o((y Far#s Co#ple/0 Managing 1irector, 2ASAMA 2A *rgani3 2ooperati(, Malvar, !atangas0 and Philippines Convenor for Southeast Asia, 45*F*,4F*AM Far#ers6 Sectoral !ody. pa(svillegas$%&%'g#ail.co# 'ntroduction Food shortages +ere avoided in the past, and the +orld successfully evaded the Malthusian prognosis that 7food is increasing arith#etically +hile population is gro+ing e/ponentially7. The parado/ is that the +orld produces #ore than enough food for everyone, yet #ore than 8%% #illion people go hungry. 9Food is cheaper and diets are (etter than :% years ago, (ut #alnutrition and food insecurity threaten #illions7 ;!adgely et al. $%%<0 Mendoza, $%%8=. 4t is true that the +orld produces enough food, (ut it is not distri(uted e>ually or e>uita(ly. Moreover, the food production strategies adopted to feed and cloth the +orld?s population have departed greatly fro# natural processes and the #a@or proponents then +ere un#indful of the conse>uences that soon nature +ill stri3e (ac3. The 4nternational Assess#ent of Agricultural 2no+ledge, Science and Technology for 1evelop#ent ;4AAST1= Aeport ;$%%8= stressed that the industrial or plantation approach, and #onoculture far#ing increased productivity (ut led to social ine>uity, #arginalization of s#all scale far#ers, environ#ental degradation and #any health issues. To resolve such issues, radical changes are needed in agricultural technologies, syste#s, practices, invest#ents in education, research, e/tension and policy. Co#ing into ter#s +ith nature presents (oth challenges and opportunities. The challenges are enor#ous if +e are to consider the features of the strategies that fed the +orld in the past century. The conventional, #odern, industrialized or brown agriculture is characterized #ainly (y specialized, #onoBcropped, #echanized, use of .C) and genetically #odified seeds and high a#ounts of e/ternal inputs ;fertilizers, +eedicides and pesticides= and e/pensive irrigation. All the inputs and logistics re>uire#ents in the value chainB fro# preB to production ;i.e. cultivation, fertilization, pesticide application or crop protection, irrigation, and harvesting= to the hauling truc3s, cold storage, and processing ;Pi#entel et al. &DDE0 Mclaughlin et al. $%%%0 Pfeiffer $%%F=, are directly and indirectly (ased on fossil fuels ;oil, natural gas, uraniu# po+ered nuclear po+er plants for electricity=. The energy flo+ to agriculture increased E% ti#es to &%% fold or #ore ;Pi#entel et al. $%%E=. 4t is 3no+n that fossil fuel reserves continue to decline or have already reached their pea3. -/traction and e/ploration have (eco#e #ore difficult and e/pensive. Gith the everBincreasing de#and ;at 8H #illion (arrels,day= ;Aodolfo $%%8= and

unsta(le situation in the Middle -ast, oilB producing countries have propelled fossil fuel price increases. Conse>uently, the prices of agroBche#ical inputs for production up to distri(ution have increased ; ucas et al. $%%<0 Pfeiffer $%%F0 Ioodchild $%%H0 Aodolfo $%%80 Mclaughlin et al. $%%%0 )idal $%%H=. The si#ple la+ of supply and de#and is adversely affecting the prices of agricultural inputs and the logistics aspects of food productionBtoBdistri(ution ;from seeds to consumers table=. 4ndeed, the cheap petrol oil propelled the rapid gro+th of industrialized agriculture coupled +ith the huge su(sidy given (y the developed econo#ies had resulted in overproduction. 4n turn, it 9cheapened food prices.J For a +hile, consu#ers +ere happy (ut cheap food +ere also 9addictingJ. 4n reality, the alleged cheap food prices +ere distortions as they accounted only for the financial prices ;+hich +ere further distorted (y state su(sidies in industrialized countries=. Food prices did not include the health and ecological costs of che#icallyB (ased and industrialized agriculture. The total costs should include ;&= the financial B the costs of purchased inputs B seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, #achineries, cost of #oney, la(or, storage, pac3aging, #ar3eting, and distri(ution0 ;$= the ecological B soil >uality deterioration due to the inputs and far#ing #ethods applied and all other environ#ental and ecological costs ;Mendoza $%%:0 opez et al. $%%H, a#p3in K Padel $%%%=. ;F= the added health and wellness costs +hich are still difficult to >uantify. Ghat +e are trying to point out is that the consu#ers are si#ply paying a s#all fraction of the total costs of their food (ill. 4t has (een esti#ated that the true cost of a (eef (urger in the US is a(out USL&%%,3g if the ecological costs are counted ;httpM,,+++.spirulinasource.co#,earthfoodchHa.ht#l=. !ut it is sold only at USL$.%%NUSLF.%%,3g. The current #ar3et price is so lo+ (ecause of govern#ent su(sidies and the ecological costs of raising (eef are not included. 4t #eans that future generations +ill pay dearly for these unseen or hidden costs and negative e/ternalities. Gith pricing (ased on the true or total cost accounting ;financial O ecological O health costs=, conventionally gro+n products are indeed grossly underBpriced. Their price tags are +ay (elo+ their actual costs of production and including price #ar3 ups in the value chain ;2aplins3y K Morris, $%%F=. 4n effect, distorted prices led to distorted vie+s and priorities of govern#ents that in turn prefer to serve the interests of their constituents N the people, through popular (ut unrealistic cheap food regi#e under che#ical agriculture #eans. *n the contrary, the linear thin3ing of overproduction over supply cheap food, is not true for all countries and people. Cheap food is not true for the poor and the @o(less ;+orse, #echanized,che#ical agriculture led to @o(lessness=. *verproduction and oversupply are not true for all countries and far#s +ithin countries ;Africa, Papan i#ports H%Q of their food, +hile the Philippines no+ i#ports F%Q of its food supply=. Ireen revolution technologies adapt +ell only in favora(le environ#ents or in the resourceBendo+ed far#s. -/ports of heavily su(sidized cheap foods distorted the priorities and policies of food deficit countries. 94t is cheaper to i#port, so +hy produce locallyRJ The theory on co#parative advantage do#inated. For a +hile, it +or3ed. Food deficit countries later realized that soon, food supply +ill (eco#e scarce and those +ho are 9richJ could afford to (uy. A case in point is the Philippines that propelled the price increase in rice fro# L:%% to L&,&%%,ton in $%%8 due to the perceived rice shortage coupled +ith the corruption of the Macapagal Aegi#e in

the country resulting in overBi#portation of as #uch as $.E Million Metric Tons ;Mendoza $%%8=. The years of cheap oil are gone fro# +here industrialized, #odern agriculture is (ased, and so +ith the cheap food regi#e. 5o less than the A1! President had said 9the era of cheap food is overSJ Uneven econo#ic gro+th a#ong countries ;5orth to South= and +ithin countries has led #any to food insecurity and poverty . This has altered the earlier linear e>uation, fro# overproduction over supply cheap food, to cheap food poverty population increase resource degradation. Ghile #odern agriculture and the acco#panying econo#ic gro+th have decreased the population of the poor, still there are #any poor and une#ployed. Cheap food in the past had supported population increase ;fro# less than (illion preBoilB(ased industrial agriculture to #ore than H (illion no+, averting the Malthusian fa#ineS=. The +orld population +ill e/pand further to a(out D.$ (illion (y $%E% ;4AAST1 $%%8=, D.& ! ;FA*=, or F:Q higher than today. At the current population gro+th rate, the Philippines +ill (e &<8 #illion and AS-A5 at around <HE Million people at that ti#e. .o+ +e can the country and for the AS-A5 Aegion successfully, relia(ly, and sustaina(ly address the food re>uire#ents of the gro+ing nu#(er of #ouths to (e fed, considering finite land, +ater, production inputs, and the a#ount of energy re>uired to produce and distri(ute the foodR This is indeed the (ig challenge for AS-A5 Countries to address and resolve. The case of the Philippines( the )*th most populous countr+ in the ,orld Aelevant data are sho+n (elo+M More than E%Q perceive that they are poor ;Iovern#ent statistics sho+ that F%Q are poor=. F%Q ;F%M= of the population are in the uplands. *nly <M ha of the &HM ha of forests in &D%% are re#aining. The Philippines, a for#erly logBe/porting country, is no+ a lu#(erBi#porting country. Fro# less than &%Q food i#port to F%Q food i#ports ;$%%8 and to date=. The Philippines has e/ceeded the ideal carrying capacity F ti#es of the land ;C4A $%%<, Mendoza $%%8=, < ti#es (y $%E%. Food is a(undant in the #ar3et. !ut food is a pro(le# a#ongM TTT su(sistence far#ers +ho do not harvest enough food crops to feed their fa#ilies till the ne/t harvest, or those +ho have harvests (ut (ecause they are heavily inde(ted, have nothing left to (uy food after paying their de(ts. TTT landless rural +or3ers +ho depend on daily la(or or contractual +or3 in sugarcane, rice, corn, and fruit plantations, as the very nature of the crops #a3es their +or3 seasonal.

TTT su(sistence fisherfol3 +ho cannot catch fish (ecause of (ad +eather, +ho have no #oney to (uy fuel for #otorized (oats to go farther out to sea to catch fish, or suffer a d+indling catch as a result of overfishing, and (ecause of unscrupulous individuals +ho use illegal fishing #ethods ;dyna#ite fishing, #uroBa#i= that destroy not only fish populations (ut #ore so their ha(itats. TTT lo+ inco#e groups +ho, (ecause of large fa#ily sizes, have lo+er >uantities of food to feed per person. And no+, food is a (ig pro(le# (ecause prices have increased +ithout a proportional increase in pay for +age earners and salaried people. 4t is fast (eco#ing a (ig (urden for those +ho spend <EQ or #ore of their inco#e on food. The poor are (eing priced out of the prevailing food #ar3et ;Mendoza $%%8=. Re-greening Agriculture Presents %oth Challenges and Opportunities in the Philippines The Resource Base (water, soil, forest) Massive deforestation had occurred due to legal and illegal logging. The policy on log e/port (efore coupled +ith the availa(ility of #achines for logging ;industrialized logging= led to rapid logging and deforestation. Gor3ers and fa#ilies of logging co#panies stayed and (uilt upland co##unities +hen logging +as finished. They continue to do slash and (urn far#ing to gro+ food crops. 1eforestation of the uplands and super heavy rains ;due to cli#ate change= is no+ causing flash floods, landslides, and #assive soil erosion ;& ! tons of top soils every year=, resulting in the inundation of the lo+lands. 5ot only upland deforestation has occurred, (ut #angrove deforestation also happened in the coastal areas. This caused the loss of fish (reeding areas0 the illegal fishing significantly decreased fish catch N causing deeper poverty a#ong s#all, su(sistence fisher fol3s and their fa#ilies. The loss of #angroves predisposed #ore coastal villages to stor# surges ;as sho+n (y the .aiyan,Colanda typhoon that +as e/perienced in the )isayas Aegions=. Further upland deforestation is no+ due to high population ;F%Q of Philippines population= in the uplands, and #angrove deforestation is also due to the high population of fisherfol3 in the coastal areas ;F%Q of Philippine population are su(sistence fisher fol3s=. They are the +orst hit +henever e/tre#es of +eather occur. These are also the sector +ho (elong to the financially challenged or poor seg#ents of Philippine society. They are the ones dependent on past 9cheap foodJ regi#e or the ones +orst hit (y s3yroc3eting food price increases. Conversely, there e/ists tre#endous opportunities in the reforestation of the upland and #angrove areas. B The !antay 1agat #odel co##unities that reforested #angroves and prevented #angrove deforestation, enforce no fishing in fish (reeding areas, policed their ran3s in doing illegal fishing #ethods, have o(served increases of fish catch and i#prove#ent in the living conditions of s#all fisher fol3s and their fa#ilies. Upland agroBforestry co##unities ;!gy. !agong Silang, os !a"os, aguna and other co##unities= have de#onstrated that the production, protection and preservation roles ;FPs= of upland agroecosyste#s could (e achieved. The clear challenge and opportunity is ho+ to upscale and #assively e/pand and i#ple#ent on a nation+ide (asis these develop#ent #odels or success stories of upland agroBforestry and #angrove 9!antay 1agatJ

#odels. The addiction to the use of agricultural che#ical inputs that led to soil fertility decline or soil degradation, and the acco#panying practice of #onoBculture agriculture in #a@or agroBecosyste#s ;rice, corn, sugarcane, coconuts=, have indeed led to the i#poverish#ent of far#ing and rural co##unities. Poverty in the Philippines can (e (riefly descri(ed asM Soil i#poverish#ent N decrease in soil fertility, fro# a(out FQ Soil *rganic Matter ;S*M= to &.EQ S*M no+S This led to increased used of che#ical fertilizer fro# EB&% (ags to &EB$% (ags in sugarcane, FBE (ags to &%B&E (ags in rice and corn. Prices of sugar and rice K corn did not proportionally increase +ith the increase in prices of inputs. a(or and logistics prices also increased hugely. Altogether, it di#inished far# profita(ility and inco#e and #a3e the Filipino far#er even poorer today than $% to F% years ago. .igh costs of production due to spiralling cost of che#ical inputs +hich are #ainly financed (y infor#al credit e/tended at usurious rates of interest +ithout crop insurance left far#ers +ith no protection against flooding,super typhoons N crop failures or the cli#ate change adverse i#pacts. )ery li#ited crop insurance only covers the credit portion of the loans that include only the fertilizer, pesticides and seeds co#ponents of the loan. The 9agricultural credit gapJ in the Philippines is even +orse esti#ated at #ore than PhPF%% !illion Pesos or USL <.E !illion 1ollars per year +ith an annual incre#ent of at least E to &% per cent. Urgent refor#s are needed in agricultural finance to #eet the credit needs of agricultureB(ased value chain to ena(le the Philippines to overco#e the +orsening 9agriculture and agri(usiness cu# agrarian credit droughtJ. 4n contrast, the Thailand6s !an3 for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives had an outstanding loans of #ore than USL $: !illion dollars to #ore than F% diversified agriB(ased enterprises in $%&F and reached out to #ore than H Million far# fa#ilies +ith a recovery rate of #ore than DE percent of due principal (y its #ore than &,&%% (ranches and village (an3s. The !an3 released #ore than USL&% !illion in March $%&$ ;!AAC Annual Aeport $%&&B$%&$=. Thailand is also i#ple#enting +eatherB(ased crop insurance Progressive countries ;South 2orea, Papan U.S., -urope= pay their far#ers the full crop value ;average of F/ the value of e/pected harvest= after a disaster or crop failure. 4t ta3es a(out FB: successful crop harvests (efore the rice far#ers can recover fro# a cala#ity. They have not fully recovered, and then another cala#ity ;flood, super typhoon= occurs. Crop financing and their food re>uire#ents are sourced through infor#al lenders +ho are at the sa#e ti#e the supplier of production inputs ;fertilizer, pesticides, seeds=. Ter#s or conditions of repay#ent is during harvest ti#e +hen prices are lo+, and these are further depressed +hen heavy rains occur. *nly e/ceptional far#ers ;FB: out of &%% far#ers= can #a3e (oth ends #eet, #eaning, they have enough rice to eat (efore ne/t harvest. Poverty and hunger ;#alnutrition or hidden hunger= prevail in rice, corn, sugarcane and coconut far#ing co##unities. Poverty leads to a high (irth rate. .igh (irth rate 3eeps the population young and young population has high and longer duration of fertility. -cono#ic gro+th cannot 3eep pace +ith the needs of the fastBgro+ing population.

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Amoeba-like economic landscape and policy structure in the ASEA countries and the !hilippines Thailand +rote off the L&.F (illion Thai far#er inde(tedness in the &D8%6s. ast year, $%&F, the Thai govern#ent spent L: (illion as support price to their agricultural products. South 2orea has a 9(uy high N sell lo+J policy to support their far#ers and consu#ers at the sa#e ti#e. 4n fact, far# inco#e in 2orea, as a result of its Sae#aul Undong Far# Policy, is even higher than the industrial la(or inco#e. Unli3e the Thai far#ers +hose de(ts +ere +ritten off, the PhP$ (illion inde(tedness of Filipino rice far#ers that supplied the rice re>uire#ents of the Filipino people produced through the Masagana DD progra# of the govern#ent +ere not +ritten off and re#ain a (urden that e/cluded the rice far#ers fro# the for#al credit #ar3et. These unpaid loans #ade the# una(le to avail of for#al loans, leaving the# no option e/cept through deal +ith the infor#al loan lenders or usurers. Several #icrofinance agencies have sprouted in the rural and periBur(an areas since the and !an3 of the Philippines and the rural (an3s have ceased to operate in the countryside, (ut only a fe+ of these #icrofinance agencies are registered. 4f registered, they are not (eing directly supervised (y the !SP ;Central !an3 of the Philippines, or covered (y the !an3ing a+=. *n credit, if interest rate go (eyond <Q per year, any increase in yield is no longer en@oyed (y the far#er (ut #ostly (y the credit donor considering the prices of inputs and outputs ;Mendoza $%&F=.The interest rate for agricultural loans in Thailand is only : B < Q for cooperatives and averaging a(out <BH percent for individual far# fa#ily loans. 4t is #uch lo+er in South 2orea ;a(out $BFQ= and Papan ;& to $ Q=. 4n contrast, #icro finance interests in the Philippines range fro# at least &< percent to $: Q to as #uch as F<B:8 percent per annu#. The econo#ic data sho+ that countries +hose pri#ary agriculture contri(utes less than &EQ of their I1P can afford to su(sidize their far#ers. US pri#ary agriculture is less than EQ of their I1P. Through the US Far# !ill, a L $H (illion dollar fund is availa(le to co#pensate far#ers hit (y any crop failure or cala#ity ;drought, hurricane=. A P42 progra# ;pay#ent in 3ind= +as i#ple#ented in the 8%6s to sta(ilize the price of cereals ;corn, soy(ean=. *)st Centur+: the Era of Glo%ali"ation( Climate Change and .Pea/ Oil0 The #ain challenges to 9AeBIreening AgricultureJ in the $&st century, a#ong others, include glo(alization ;free trade,(orderless econo#yM free #ove#ent of goods, services, capital=, cli#ate change and 9pea3 oilJ. The Philippines has to endure the reality that it is longitudinally and latitudinally situated in the interBtropical convergent zone ;4TCU=, #a3ing it the Frd #ost vulnera(le country in the +orld to cli#ate change. Ghile there are #any adaptive and (est agricultural practices, technologies and syste#s, the onBground realities are unduly #a3ing these initiatives difficult to i#ple#ent. -arlier, reforestation initiatives (oth for the upland and #angrove areas +ere identified as 3ey activities in the longBter# reha(ilitation of these agroBecosyste#s. Also, tree integration ;Mendoza $%%$= +as found to have the (est i#pacts in ter#s of C*$ se>uestration and in protecting the far#s regardless of elevation and crop ecosyste#s. !ac3trac3ing, it is i#portant to as3, What happened to the revenues from log exports? ogs e/ported in the past +ere unduly priced lo+. Correctly pricing our e/ported logs could have earned #ore than enough to

repay the Philippine inde(tedness ;L$< != in the early iD8%s as esti#ated (y then 1r. 1ioscoro . U#ali ;for#er Assistant 1irector Ieneral of FA*,U5 in AsiaBPacific and )ice President of University of the Philippines for Agriculture and Forestry= in his speech delivered to the graduating class of UP titled 9 Be the Heroes we never were! ;PhP $< ! dollar ;' PhP :: per &L0 $< / :: V PhP &.&:: trillion pesos=. This is roughly e>uivalent to the a#ount re>uired to reforest &% M ha of (adly deforested areas in the Philippines. .aving PhP&.$ trillion pesos, there +ould (e enough funds to re3indle tree planting efforts in the uplands through direct afforestation of areas unsuita(le to agroforestry. -nviron#ental restoration through reforestation is costly ' P&$%, %%%,ha, (ased on our recent e/perience in our Mari3ina Gatershed Pro@ect. The arith#etic costs of restoring &% M ha of (adly deforested areas re>uires a staggering &.$ trillion pesos ;PhP=, or roughly EFQ of the $%&: Philippine national (udget. 4t is appro/i#ately the value of our underpriced log e/ports in the past. The challenge is ho+ to convince the countries +here +e e/ported our logs to pay us the full a#ount. -/pecting the Philippines to do the reforestation alone or the far#ers to do the full scale tree integration in their far# landscape ;although so#e far#ers are doing it= could (e a long pipe drea#. Far#ers are not planting trees. The reasons identified are as follo+sM Trees reduce the space for gro+ing their food crops. Trees or fruit trees ta3e years to #ature or (ear fruits. They are not assured that they are still there since they do not o+n the lands ;land rights or land security issues=. 4f they o+n the lands, seedlings are not availa(le or they are so e/pensive ;they lac3 s3ills in plant propagation, nursery #anage#ent= ;Mendoza $%%$=. -#issions (y deforestation due to land conversion to agriculture accounted for &$Q of the glo(al I.I e#issions. The Philippines did not (enefit #uch fro# her log e/ports, +hich caused the high e#issions fro# deforestation. At present the (igger challenge is the transfor#ation of our (ro+n far#s into green or organic far#s. The transfor#ation fro# #odern brown agriculture to "reen agriculture is #uch #ore co#ple/ than it appears to (e. First, very fe+ far#ers are philosophers, poets, or environ#entalists. 4t is not unco##on to hear far#ers tell a far# e/tension +or3er, 7Cou +ere the ones +ho propagated #odern agriculture through the use of fertilizer and pesticides. Ghy are you telling us no+ to stop using the#R7 ;Mendoza &DD:=. econd! no+ that the adverse effects of the introduced #odern syste#s have already (een recognized, +hy should the (urden of change and the attendant ris3s (e solel" on the#R Far#ers are not as i#practical as they are portrayed to (e. Soil fertility ranges fro# (ad to +orse in different places. .o+ +ould they far# organically +ithout encountering yield declinesR A $%Q or #ore decline in yields of rice in the first t+o croppings after shifting to organic agriculture #ethods of planting has (een o(served ;Mendoza &DD:=. 4t +ould (e short of a catastrophe if the #a@ority of far#ers +ere to decide to shift to organic agriculture overnight. There are attendant ris3s and pro(le#s in organic production. 4n their study, )illegas K Custodio ;$%&F= listed the follo+ing reasons +hy s#allBholders vegeta(le far#ers are not ready or reluctant to adopt organic far#ing. These included erratic and unfavora(le +eather conditions, natural cala#ities, lac3 of 3no+ledge, s3ills and training on organic technologies, lac3 of availa(le >uality organic inputs, reduction in yields in the conversion or transition stages and overall agricultural productivity, lac3 of consu#er a+areness on the (enefits of organic vegeta(les and changing preferences, rigid organic certification process, lac3 of incentives and financial support for organic far#ers, govern#ent (ias on green revolution or che#ical agriculture

technology, li#ited #ar3et outlets, and unsta(le or erratic price fluctuations. Far#ers far# for livelihood to generate inco#e for their fa#ilies, and to produce food. They adopt syste#s and practices that ena(le the# to achieve their goals in far#ing, or those syste#s and practices that lighten the (urden of far#ing such as the use of #achines to facilitate land preparation, threshing, and #illing0 the use of her(icides to control +eeds0 the use of pesticides to >uic3ly eli#inate, if not #ini#ize, the ris3 of crop failure and possi(le yield reduction due to pests. *ur far#ers are no+ addicted to the use of che#icals. 4s it not purely their fault. To produce the food re>uire#ents of the rapidly gro+ing population, they +ere enticed to adopt the practice of che#icalB(ased N #odern agriculture, also called green revolution agriculture ;Masagana DD in the Philippines=. This resulted in soil fertility decline and far#er inde(tedness. Gill they (e alone no+ in restoring soil fertility or in reha(ilitating the 9addictedJ soil to che#ical fertilizerR 4ndia is paying their far#ers L$E%,ha as an incentive to far#ers to shift to green or organic agriculture. Ghat a(out their inde(tedness +hich prevent the# fro# availing loans fro# for#al credit institutionsR !y the sa#e logic, their inde(tedness +as not solely their o+n doing. 4t +as their desire to o(tain high yield and the govern#ent +ish then for the country to (e selfBsufficient in food. !ut +e cannot 9ta#e the +ind, and still the +aterJ as the song goesS Follo+ing the e/a#ple of Thailand, a credit program for green agriculture must also be designed coupled with weather#based crop insurance$ %o get agriculture going! an agricultural subsid" fund for restoring the organic matter content of agricultural lands and the agricultural credit gap of more than &h&'(( Billion &esos must be immediatel" addressed and filled up for a green and ecological agricultural technolog" to proceed$ 1uring the early years ;&D<%6s= of #assive pro#otion of #odern brown agriculture to accelerate its adoption, far#ers +ere organized into 7 amahang )a"on7 or village associations and supported (y the govern#ent. This +as through sponsored training and credit progra#s designed to e/tend loans to the far#ers to ena(le the# to (uy agroche#icals and s#all far# #achinery. Ghat a(out organic agricultureR Far#ers are receiving little help or none at all in their shift or conversion to green agriculture. To facilitate #assive adoption of "reen organic agriculture (y our far#ers, a coherent and co#prehensive progra# #ust (e designed +here our far#ers +ill have access to green, organic and ecological technologies, finance, #ar3ets and #anage#ent syste#s though s#all far#erBoriented Aesearch and 1evelop#ent and -/tension Syste#s and +ith supporting 4nfor#ation, -ducation and Co##unication #odalities at the grassroots and ocal Iovern#ent Units levels.$ Pro1iding Comprehensi1e Support Ser1ices to our Small-Scale Famil+ Farms Gith all the conditions discussed a(ove, the shift to green agriculture is not easy, si#ple and straight for+ard. A Co#prehensive Support Syste#s ;CSS= #ust (e put together for our s#allBscale fa#ily far#s +ithin and across the value chain ;2aplins3y and Morris, $%%F0 Mendoza $%%8=. Agriculture has production and postB production up to consu#ption lin3ages, or there are producers as +ell as consu#ers. 5o+ is the ti#e for fa#ily far#Bfocused integrated and holistic far#ing syste#s develop#ent +ithin the AS-A5 -cono#ic Co##unity ;A-C= as +e cele(rate the $%&: United 5ations 4nternational Cear of Fa#ily Far#s

#n the production side, the shift to organic or ecological agriculture +ithin the Philippines and AS-A5 constitutes +hat others call 9paradig# shift.J !ro+n agriculture is technologyB(ased ;#achineries, hy(rid seeds, che#ical inputs, irrigation= +hile green agriculture is cultureB(ased and it is 3no+ledgeBintensive. 4t involves caring for our health and nurturing the soil, the plants and the environ#ent ;)illegas $%%8=. 4t is 9feeding the soil rather than the plants.7 4t is gro+ing the soil, as organic agriculture practitioners readily clai#. Ae(uilding or reB gro+ing the soil is the first re>uisite ;this assu#es that +e have accepted the paradig# shift= in the conversion or transition fro# che#icalB(ased (ro+n agriculture to green and ecological agriculture. This i#plies a tightBrope (alancing during the shifting to green agriculture or organic conversion process. The &st critical technical step is re(uilding or restoring soil ;fro# &.EQ S*M to FQ S*M= to loosen, to i#prove +ater infiltration and retention, to #a3e it favora(le for root gro+th and to have all those population of #icro(es that fi/ nitrogen, solu(ilize phosphorus, synthesize plant gro+th pro#oting hor#ones such as indigenous and gi((erelic a#ino acids ;4AA, IAA=0 #icro(es that produce co#pounds that confer syste#ic resistance ;si#ilar to i##unity in ani#als=0 #icro(es that deto/ify the pesticides (y for#ing chelates or outright deco#position. Understanding those (asic needs is necessary since our soil has lost its native fertility due to continuous and faulty crop hus(andry practices. As stated earlier, it is not solely the fault of the far#ers that the soil has lost its fertility >uality. The (asic >uestion raised earlier is 9Gill the far#er do soil re(uilding aloneR7 Ghen far#ers +ere advised to adopt che#ically (ased agriculture, credit, training and all other support services +ere e/tended. 4n the past, +e (an3rolled the far#ers to produce food for us through che#icalB(ased agriculture. A si#ilar strategy should (e done to pro#ote the adoption of green agriculture. Fro# (ro+n agriculture to green agriculture, it is (ut o(vious that far#ers should also (e given si#ilar if not greater support. *rganic conversion or shifting fro# che#ical or (ro+n agriculture to Ireen and -conlogical Agriculture #ust (e considered as pu(lic and social goods that deserve govern#ent su(sidy for the organic conversion process. As stated earlier, the soil is no+ addicted to fertilizer. Sudden +ithdra+al +ill reduce yields ;:%B<%Q=. 1epending on the level of soil fertility decline, soil re(uilding +ill ta3e years ;FBE years or even longer=. 1uring the initial soil re(uilding process, it is still e/pected that yields +ill decline. 4t +ill pose serious difficulties for the far#er and his fa#ily ;and for the +hole nation= if he,she suddenly stopped using agroBche#ical inputs. There #ust (e efforts to avoid yield decline. *r, there #ust (e +ays to co#pensate the far#ers for the yield declines during the conversion period. This +as also stressed in the report of )illegas K Custodio ;$%&F=. Che#ical fertilizer inputBsaving practices ;onBsite co#posting, no (io#ass (urning, nutrient cycling practices etc.= #ust (e introduced. *nBfar# (ioBfertilizer production ;planting MPT legu#es N Iliricidia, eucaena, Ses(ania etc.= #ust for# part of far# designs. The far#s need alternative or 9organicJ inputs to replace the che#ical inputs. !ut +here +ill they get the #aterials to #a3e co#postsR 4t is on this (asis that facilitation efforts should (e #ade as in transport and #i/ing of the #aterials to deco#pose the#. Ghere +ill they get co#post activatorsR Ge #ust consider the logistics re>uire#ents of soil fertility restoration. The other i#portant re>uire#ent is seed or planting #aterials. Can far#ers use the sa#e seed (red for (ro+n agricultureR Far#ers should use seeds (red or selected under organic far#ing syste#s ;Mendoza K Manig(as,

&%

$%&:=. Seed deto/ification for (ro+n agricultureBproduced seed should (e done. *rganic agriculture is associated +ith diversity or diversified far#ing ;Mendoza $%&F=. Far#ers need seeds of different crop species. As far#ers have (een practicing #onoculture for #any decades, they have deBcultured seeds of various crop species. Far#ers #ust (e reBtrained on seed propagation of various seed lots ;orthodo/ and recalcitrant= and use of appropriate planting #aterials ;cuttings, tu(ers, roots=. Seed support #ust (e designed for the far#ers. 4t is necessary that govern#ent or any supportive private individuals initially provide the seed stoc3s. Fro# there, the far#ers though their associations or cooperatives #ust (e a(le to #ass produce the seeds for #assive distri(ution to their fello+ far#ers. *pen pollinated cultivars are preferred as saved seeds fro# previous harvest could (e reB used again and again to relieve the far#ers fro# (uying seeds every cropping. A (iodiverse integrated and organic far#ing ;!4* far#= achieves far# #ultifunctionality ;Mendoza $%&F=. Multifunctionality is achieved through the &= enhance#ent of ecosyste#s , environ#ental servicesBcar(on capture , se>uestration in the a(oveground tree (io#assB+ood and fruit trees and (elo+ ground through increased soil organic car(on (y co#post application and crop,+eeds residues recycling, in turn restoring soil >uality and #a3ing the soil healthy0 $= localized production of healthy foods ;fruits and vegeta(les= at the least #onetary and energy costs0 no transport ;no food #iles= and refrigeration costs ;electricity (ills=0 food is al+ays availa(le in the house ;FA4T.= (y tapping crop perenniality and adapta(ility to varying soil #oisture regi#e that at the sa#e ti#e is an adaptive response to cli#ate change ;ris3s, -l 5i"o, a 5i"a cycles=0 F= her(s and #edicinal plants gro+ing plus the e/posure to #orning sunshine and fresh air tending the crops that is re@uvenating, altogether lead to considera(le savings on #edicines0 and := onBfar# production of fuel for coo3ing ;crop residues, treeB (ranches=, +hich reduce the use of PI and I.I e#issions of coo3ing ;Mendoza $%&F=. Che#ical agriculture is associated +ith #onoculture N a #onotonous landscape. The shift to diverse agriculture re>uires reBlandscaping or reBdesigning the far#s to achieve the desired ecosyste# or soil conditions favora(le for the various crops species to (e gro+n. This is also necessary so that nutrient cycling ;crop O livestoc3= and +ater reBuse and conservation ;crop O livestoc3 O a>uaculture= are integrated in the far# landscape. ->uip#ent for soil digging ;(ac3hoe=, +ater reservoir construction ;(ulldozer, loader= #ust (e #ade availa(le to far#ers. The 1epart#ent of 4nterior and ocal Iovern#ent ;14 I= and 1epart#ent of Pu(lic Gor3s and .igh+ays ;1PG.= should include in their respective (udgetary re>uire#ents far# #achineries for far# landscape i#prove#ent. There is no easy +ay in solving the present soil degradation and erosion situation in far#ing. $entral to their shift to "reen farmin" within and across %alue chain, farmers need affordable and timely a%ailable credit& Allo+ing for#al Nlo+BinterestB(earing loans to (e availa(le to our far#ers is not only i#perative (ut necessary to correct the historic in@ustice to our rice far#ers. A de(t +riteBoff for agricultural loans and agrarian refor# land a#ortizations is the first critical step as +hat the Thai govern#ent did in the 8%6s and the D%s$ But providing interest#free or low interest bearing loans should also be accorded with crop insurance and agricultural finance guarantee mechanisms in view of the high ris* +, in ever" ' "ears- brought about b" climate change$ )ecessaril"! a shift to diversified loan portfolio management must loo* at multi#cropping and irrigated agriculture involving a arra" or plethora of man" high value food and cash crops rather than purel" rice#based irrigation mindset$

&&

The Agricultural and Aural Credit Policy should (e reBdesigned +ith the follo+ing featuresM &. Credit assistance #ust (e e#ployed to pro#ote co#parative advantage and co#petitiveness of cropB and,or livestoc3Ba>uaculture (ased clustering of focal and supporting,related enterprises geared to+ards (etter and i#proved cropBlivestoc3Bfishery hus(andry and irrigation practices B ade>uate land preparation, opti#u# spacing and ti#e of planting, ade>uate +eeding, conservation far#ing practices, etc0 $. Credit should (e designed for ecological and organic agriculture and far#ing syste#s in order to pro#ote (ioBintensive organic far#ing and lo+ e/ternalBinput agriculture +ith science and technologyB(ased sustaina(le shifting fro# che#ical to green agriculture. Far#ers should pursue practical and applica(le nutrient cycling ;no crop residue (urning=, production of organic #aterials and inputs li3e organic fertilizers and ver#ico#posting, utilization of fer#entation technology in the production of (ioBnutrition plant gro+th (oosters and ecological pest #anage#ent practices as part of the loan agree#ent0 :. 4n the uplands, credit for corn and field crops production +ill (e e/tended only if the far#ers adopt alley cropping and other soil conservationBoriented far#ing practices ;contour plo+ing, #ulching, integration of +oody perennials B fruit trees, nitrogenBfi/ing trees, fuel+ood , lu#(er trees=. .ence, credit #ust not only (e e/tended to corn and field crops production per se (ut to a cornB(ased ecological far#ing syste#s that +ill e#ploy (alanced fertilization and integrated pest #anage#ent during the organic conversion or transition period. E. The respective Charters of the and !an3 of the Philippines, 1evelop#ent !an3 of the Philippines, S#all !usiness Credit and Iuarantee Corporation, Philippine Crop 4nsurance Corporation and other Iovern#ent Financing 4nstitutions, including the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and 5ational Credit Council, #ust (e i##ediately revisited and their respective !oards and Manage#ent -/ecutives duly #andated to focus their operations in (uilding villageB and co##unityB(ased rural and agricultural develop#ent (an3ing net+or3 that +ill provide and #a3e accessi(le its loans, guarantee and insurance #echanis#s and other financial products to the tee#ing #illions of i#poverished far#ers, fisherfol3s and upland d+ellers, including indigenous peoples and persons +ith disa(ilities. Their respective perfor#ance #ust (e oriented to+ards social entrepreneurship +ith a (alanced consideration not only on profita(ility (ut #ore on providing opti#u# outreach facilities and services as +ell as #a/i#u# access a#ong far#ers and rural #icro, s#all and #ediu# (usiness entrepreneurs to financial assistance, #ar3ets, (usiness develop#ent services as +ell as vitally needed #anage#ent syste#s, capacity (uilding and rural enterprise e/tension services along +ith #ore userBfriendly and >uadB#ediaBoriented infor#ation, education and co##unication #odalities. The Philippines +ill greatly (enefit fro# the successful operation of the Thailand6s !an3 for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, as the (ench#ar3 (usiness and social enterprise #odel +here so#e #ore innovations and (est practices in rural and agricultural (an3ing and financial delivery and recovery syste#s could (e further introduced, enhanced and grafted to the Philippine Iovern#ent Financial 4nstitutions.

!ro%idin" rural financial market policy reforms and low-interest-bearin" loans are not sufficient without market access and preferential pricin" options& 4t is co##on 3no+ledge that during harvest ti#e, prices are lo+. Far#ers cannot +ait for the ti#e +hen

&$

prices increase since they have no sufficient storage facilities0 (esides, they are heavily inde(ted. The lo+ prices at harvest ti#e plus the higher interest translate to #any cavans of rice as peso e>uivalent of their loans. As stated earlier, South 2orea is i#ple#enting !uy .igh N Sell o+ policy in support of their far#ers$ Mar3et access +ith conco#itant guaranteed price and,or price support #echanis#s #ust (e e/tended to the far#ers to respond to favoura(le far# gate #ar3et signals and help sta(ilize the prices for the (enefit of the consu#ers. )illegas K Custodio ;$%&F= suggested i#prove#ents in the product, #ar3et, pricing and infor#ation flo+s +ithin the supply and value chain for the vegeta(le industries. Foremost, the Co#prehensive Support Services ;CSS= pac3age for ecological and organic agriculture should also address the needs of the household of s#all scale fa#ily far#s. This re>uires a CSS pac3age that +ill i#prove their >uality of life0 CSS pac3age that +ill dignify far#ing and a CSS pac3age that +ill (ring (ac3 the via(ility of s#all fa#ily far#s and encourage the youth to #a3e far#ing their life long profession. To achieve this vision, the follo+ing 3ey guidelines #ust (e adoptedM The CSS pac3age #ust (e agroBenviron#entB(ased. *(viously, the upland and lo+land agroBenviron#ents have different features ;land, relief, topography, soil, +ater regi#e=. Far# sizes are also different. These are s#aller in the lo+lands, (ut infrastructures ;road net+or3s, co##unications= are (etter and nearer to the #ar3et channels. Uplands are +atersheds for the lo+lands and perfor# ecosyste# interrelated services and functions ;production, protection, preservation=. Far#ers planting corn in the uplands and the slash and (urn far#ing #ethods e/plains +hy the residual seedling gro+th of second gro+th forest has failed0 in turn, this has led to #ore devegetation, soil erosion, siltation of river(eds and flashfloods in the lo+lands. AgroBforestry syste#s that involve planting trees ;fruits , +oods= in the landscape should (e e#phasized (ut corresponding incentives and re+ards #ust (e for#ulated ;Malayo K Mendoza $%&F=. Short ter# gains in any practice,technology should not #as3 the longBter# (eneficial effects to the society and the nation. The lo+lands are still the food (as3et of the country. Far#ers #ust (e supported to address the declining soil fertility, increasing prices of inputs, and lo+ total far# yields. Seeds and seedlings for location agroBspecific diverse cropping syste#s ;rice, corn, sugarcane, fruit trees N (anana, #angoes= #ust (e provided to spread the ris3s, sustain yearBround productivity along +ith the #ain crop. Fortunately, successful #odels for each crop syste#s are in place and there are early successful far#er practitioners. They need not (e rediscovered. There are #ore than E%,%%% organic far#ing practitioners in the Philippines dispersed in different villages in the country. The %aried re'uirements of the production systems across (%alue chain) of a "i%en a"ro-en%ironment must be addressed& The 9value chainJ fra#e+or3 in providing support services is not only necessary (ut #andatory. There are #any reasons for thatM a= *ftenti#es, +hat is supported is only far# level production. Ghy produce #uch if it cannot (e re#uneratively #ar3etedR The perisha(ility and pri#ary processing re>uire#ent for a particular co##odity should (e addressed at the far# level to avoid and reduce postBharvest losses. Processing any crop pri#ary produce needs volu#e, capital, technology, e>uip#ent. These are +ell 3no+n. Ge need not reinvent the +heel0 +e only need to have a +or3ing and grassrootsBoriented agricultural e/tension syste# +ith the IUs

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providing the leadership +ith the proBactive support of the 1epart#ent of Agriculture. 4n the uplands, if the far#er?s choice is to plant @ac3fruit, processing fruits ;dried @ac3fruit, s+eetened fruits, etc.= #ust (e put in place along +ith the integration of suita(le and good paying enterprises ;native chic3en, (ee 3eeping= to further increase far#er?s inco#e. (= The (ottlenec3s in production of seeds, seedlings, nursery practices, seed production, storage, distri(ution sche#e, care and #anage#ent, supple#entary #ultiple cropping syste#s #ust also (e resolved. c= The pri#ary #ar3et is still the s#all far# household. The FA4T. ;food is al+ays in the house= production syste# #ust (e e#phasized to arrest hunger and #alnutrition. -asily, &% perennial species of vegeta(le can (e planted in the far#. 4t is an irony that the far#ers? children suffer #alnutrition +hile they are the ones gro+ing food. Medicines should not (e e/pensive. 4n fact, through #edicinal and culinary her(al gardens, #edicine could (e free and readily availa(le at door step. Many #edicinal plants can (e planted or integrated in the s#all far# households6 FA4T. garden ;Mendoza $%&F=. The institution (cooperati%ism) and capability-buildin" needs of the small scale farmers must be addressed& The far#ers6 capa(ility to address the value chain #ay or #ay not (e availa(le in their particular locations. The gaps can (e easily identified. Training of far#ers to i#prove their capa(ility should (e provided ;Mendoza &DD<=. Properly #anaged s#all far#s have (een sho+n to (e #ore productive and profita(le. 4n the Philippines, the o(served gap in s#all far# is currently (eing addressed through the group far#ing approach of 1A, 1AA and 1-5A through their convergence approach to integrated rural develop#ent progra#s. The convergence initiatives, ho+ever, #ust (e revisited and redirected +ith the passage of the *rganic Agriculture Act of $%&% ;Aepu(lic Act &%%<8=, to pro#ote green or organic agriculture. The various re>uire#ents of pro#oting organic agriculture +ithin and across value chain could (e addressed through cooperatives. Cooperativis# re#ains as the lasting re#edy to the lac3 of scale econo#ies associated +ith s#all far#s and the ensuing frag#entation of (ig landed estates due to the land asset distri(ution ; A1= or agrarian refor# progra#s in the Philippines, the AS-A5 region and the rest of the +orld. Ghy is the cooperative #ove#ent no+ (eing e#phasizedR !ecause #any (enefits accrue if efforts are done through the cooperatives ;ta/ e/e#ption, input price reduction due to (ul3 purchase etc.=. 4t is not that there are #any agricultural coop failures rather than success stories that could (e #entioned that +e should a(andon cooperativis#. MultiBpurpose cooperatives still re#ain as the via(le option for our s#all scale far#ers including consu#ers, govern#ent and private e#ployees. 4t is the coop #anage#ent that +ill replace the vacuu# and scale econo#y that is #issing in s#all far#s. !ut, there is a need to professionalize the #anage#ent of cooperatives to #a3e the# really +or3 ;Castillo, $%&F=. AS-A5 countries could learn fro# each other and the Philippines should learn fro# her neigh(oring countries +here the cooperative #ove#ent has +or3ed +ell, especially in the !AACBfinanced agricultural cooperatives in Thailand that are registering #ore than D8 Q loan recovery rates.

*inally, an all-embracin" (Social Security) for our all our small farmers and fisherfolk alike&

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A #ore syste#atic and progra##atic health insurance plans #ust (e provided to all our small farmers and fisherfolk alike. As3 +hy a far#er sells his,her cara(ao ;the ar#s and legs of the far#er= or #ortgage his land parcel, the far#er #ay say it is (ecause his +ife, child, #other or father needs to (e hospitalized. ife preservation ta3es priority over asset retention, a cherished culture of our people. The average age of our far#ers is E8 years. There are #any +ho are senior citizen cardholders. Ghat +ill (e their life if they can no longer do far#ingR Than3s to the e/tended fa#ily, part of the culture and +ay of life do#inating our lives in the AS-A5 region and the Philippines. The far#ers #ust have a social security plan ;+hich is (eyond Phil.ealth and retire#ent (enefits=. This can (e called 9!uhay Panatag sa 2anayanunanJ ;Secure and StressBFree ife in the Countryside= that descri(es a socially secure life in the rural areas. The advocacy is for the creation of a ne+ insurance product +ithin the Social Security Syste# in close coordination +ith the 1epart#ents of Agriculture, .ealth and !udget and Manage#nt, that +ill address the social security needs of s#all far#ers and #icro,s#all entrepreneurs in the countryside. The SSS has to (e #andated to effectively address the social insurance and safety nets needs of s#allholders in the rural areas. Alternatively, the Iovern#ent could opt to revisit the charter of the Philippine Crop 4nsurance Corporation and adopt the CAA1 Mutually Aeinforcing 4nstitutions, insurance and social safety nets #echanis#s and transfor# PC4C into a Countryside 4nsurance and Social Safety 5ets Corporation +hich +ill ta3e care of (oth the social security needs of far#ers as +ell as crop insurance and loan guarantee needs of s#allholder far#ers and entrepreneurs..

Awareness campai"n, %ia education and communication and policy reforms in promotin" the adoption of "reen a"riculture &. There is still lo+ level of a+areness on green or organic agriculture +ithin and across the value chain. Massive >uad #edia infor#ation, education, and co##unication ;4-C= #aterials and disse#ination drive #ust (e conducted to address this lo+ level of a+areness (eginning fro# the principles and practices0 i#portance and urgency of shifting into organic agriculture in response to the environ#ental, health, resource use and cli#ate adverse i#pacts of che#icallyB(ased agriculture ;)illegas et al $%&&=. A de#andBled or consu#erBcentered pro#otion of organic agriculture #ust (e tried also ;Mendoza $%%:=. $. Iovern#ent agencies, state colleges and universities ;SCUs=, other research institutions and co##unityB (ased far#er organizations and civil society organizations ;CS*s= #ust @oin hands in conducting scienceB and technologyB(ased A1K- services on organic agriculture and in co#ing up +ith a co#pendiu# of local indigenous, natural far#ing and scienceB(ased technologies and practices. The research results #ust (e effectively and ti#ely disse#inated especially to organic far#er producers and their organizations so that the organic advocacy and (est practices could spread faster and +ider in the country. There is a need for the govern#ent to fastBtrac3 the internalization and institutionalization of sustaina(le organic agriculture a#ong its develop#ent partners and #ultiBsectoral and #ultiBdisciplinary sta3eholders. 4ndigenous local and scienceB(ased organic #aterials, technologies and practices a(ound, and they need to (e inventoried, properly docu#ented and field validated, screened, and pro#oted. Such strategic action +ill provide far#ers the +hole range of options and

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plethora of +or3a(le, costBeffective and relia(le technologies and practices, and organic #aterials and inputs ;)illegas K Custodio $%&F= F. ->ually i#portant is *rganic Agriculture -ducation. Currently, degree progra#s in the field of Agriculture ;!achelor6s degree, Masters and 1octoral degree progra#s= #ostly cater or e#phasize che#icallyB(ased or conventional (ro+n agriculture. There is a need to revie+ and revise the curriculu# of State Universities and Colleges ;SUCs=, including the private colleges and universities so that they offer degree progra#s fro# the (accalaureate ;!achelor6s degree= to post N (accalaureate ;Masters and 1octoral= degree progra#s in *rganic, -cological and Sustaina(le Agriculture +ithin or across disciplines of crop,ani#al sciencesB pest K disease #anage#ent, soil K crop #anage#ent, harvesting K postBharvest practices, syste#s, technologies, pac3aging, storage, food recipes, coo3ing and eating. :. The Philippines has an ena(ling la+ on organic agriculture ;AA &%%<8, the Philippine *rganic Agriculture Act of $%%8=. There is no punitive #easure included in the la+. 4t #eans that far#ers are not punished or i#prisoned for not shifting into organic agriculture. There is a (udget of around L$& Million 1ollars annually included in the Ieneral Appropriations Act. 4t is critical and urgent that a proBactive Progra# Manage#ent *ffices at the national, regional and IU,grassroots levels (e esta(lished to ensure #ore transparent and costB effective #anage#ent syste#s of the 5ational *rganic Agricultural Progra# ;)illegas et al $%&&=. The civil society organizations ;CS*s= consider the la+ as a triu#ph over their long years of advocacy in organic far#ing as earlier advocacies +ere considered as su(versive acts (efore. !ut it is si#ply a start of the long @ourney. $onclusions The shift and transition fro# conventional (ro+n agriculture to green agriculture is a co#ple/ and dyna#ic process. Ireen agriculture transcends individual far# (oundaries and co##unities or fro# net producing and consu#ing districts, provinces, regions +ithin the country. Ilo(alization propelled (y IATTBUA inspired regional unification or integration ;i.e. AS-A5 -cono#ic Co##unity or A-C for Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific -cono#ic Cooperation or AP-C for Asia and the Pacific, 5AFTA for 5orth A#erica Free Trade Agree#ent, to na#e so#e of the#=. Free trade includes the free flo+ of goods, services, capital and infor#ation and is no+ influencing (oth the input and output side of the supply and consu#ption chain. The a#oe(aBli3e or unevenness in the state of econo#ic develop#ent of the AS-A5 countries and the rest of the +orld influences the levels of logistics, capital, technology and the policy support syste#s +ithin and across the value chain of each and every agricultural co##odities in different countries. The opportunities and (enefits of the shift to green agriculture need no further de(ate. !ut the shift is not #echanical (eginning +ithin the far#ers6 #ilieu. 4t is fully recognized no+ that #odern agriculture has led to soil degradation. Far#ers should not solely shoulder the +hole (urden in the shifting process. Soil fertility restoration is #aterialB, la(orB, 3no+ledgeB, logisticsBintensive. The Philippines has a #odest initiative ;A.A. &%%<8, the Philippine *rganic Agriculture Act of $%%8=0 the i#pact of this legislative #ove is yet to (e felt considering the nu#(er of far#ers +ho are into organic far#ing ;less than &Q to at #ost &Q of far#ers6 population=. Shifting the gear to consu#erB or de#andBled pro#otion of organic agriculture as in Co##unityBSupported Agriculture ;CSA= as (eing done in Papan, Australia, -urope and USA, #a3e good sense. !ut consu#ers in these

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countries are #ore econo#ically +ellBoff than the average consu#ers in the AS-A5 region ;E%% #illion people= and also the Philippines ;around &%% #illion people in $%&:=. Consu#er a+areness or consciousness (uiltBup is i#portant (ut the +illingness of the consu#ers to support the producers should (e translated into their +illingness to (uy at the right price of green agricultural products. !ro+n agricultural products are still cheaply priced (ut average inco#e consu#ers are already co#plaining of the food price increases +hile the poor are (eing edged out +ith food price increases. Stratifying the purchasing po+er of consu#ers li3e distri(uting food coupons can (e one option. The Philippines for a(out F years has (een i#ple#enting the conditional cash transfer ;CCT= for the poor. *rganic agriculture production can (e integrated into this progra##e. Together +ith the local govern#ent units ; IU6s=, vacant residential or far# lots can (e devoted to green agriculture food production. This can (e done in rural and periBur(an areas. References ACT4*5A41. $%&$. Asia at the Crossroads. Prioritizing Conventional Agriculture or Sustaina(le AgricultureR Aeport +ritten (y Mar3 Curtis for Actionaid. :< p. !A1I -C, Catherine, Pere#y Moghtader, -ileen Wuintero, -#ily Ua3e#, M Pahi Chappell, 2atia AvilesB )az>uez, A51A-A Sa#ulon K 4vette Perfecto. $%%H. *rganic agriculture and the glo(al food supply. Aene+a(le Agriculture and Food Syste#s $$;$=M 8<N&%8

!P. $%%H. Ilo(al Statistical Aevie+ of Gorld -nergy, Pune $%%H. httpM,,+++.(p.co#,statisticalrevie+

!UA45I., P. &D8D. Availa(ility of agricultural land for crop and livestoc3 production. 4n Food and 5atural Aesources, 1 Pi#entel K CG .all ;ed=. <DB8F. San 1iegoM Acade#ic Press

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*,-TC.$%&F.The role of cooperativis# across value chain in enhancing AA!s far# productivity and 4nco#e. 1iscussed during the 5ational Conference Cli#ate S#art Agriculture held at AT4, W.C. Philippines.

C4A. $%%<. Philippines. Gorld Fact(oo3. && Puly $%%<httpM,,sportsforu#.+s,sd,fact(oo3,geos,rp.ht#lX-con, Accessed &E Septe#(er $%&:. 1-G4 1.*. and T.C Mendoza. $%%<. Productivity and -fficiency of 1iversified AiceB!ased Far#ing Syste#s in the Trans#igration )illage of Aasau Paya 1istrict in Gest 2ali#antan, 4ndonesia.. The Phil. Agric. Scientist 8D ;F=M $F8B$:8.

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1G4CA5A -.A. and T.C. Mendoza $%%< Co#parative Productivity, Profita(ility and -fficiency of Aice Monoculture and AiceBFish Culture Syste#s. Pournal of Sustaina(le Agriculture $% ;&=M&B&&. I**1C.4 1 P. $%%H 7Agriculture 4n A PostB*il -cono#y,7 httpM,,+++.countercurrents.org,goodchild$$%D%H.ht# Accessed M April <,$%%8 IAA45.$%%D.The 4nternational food syste#s and the cli#ate crisis. Cli#ate Crisis Sp. 4ssue. Seedling *ct $%%D.+++.grain.org. The co#plete references used (y Irain technical persons can (e accessed at httpM+++.grain.org,go,cli#atecrisisrefs Ireenpeace.$%%8. Agroche#ical use in the Philippines and its conse>uences in the environ#ent, geenpeace.org.ph 4AAST1. $%%8. The 4nternational Assess#ent of Agricultural 2no+ledge, Science and Technology for 1evelop#ent. httpM,,+++.agassess#ent.org 4AAST1. $%%8. The 4nternational Assess#ent of Agricultural 2no+ledge, Science and Technology for 1evelop#ent. httpM,,+++.agassess#ent.org 4PCC, $%%HM Cli#ate Change $%%HM 4#pacts, Adaptation, and )ulnera(ility. Contri(ution of Gor3ing Iroup 44 to the Fourth Assess#ent Aeport of the 4ntergovern#ental Panel on Cli#ate Change YParry, Martin ., Canziani, *svaldo F., Paluti3of, Pean P., van der inden, Paul P., and .anson, Clair -. ;eds.=Z. Ca#(ridge University Press, Ca#(ridge, United 2ingdo#, &%%% pp. P-A)*5S, P. C. $%%&. !iointensive Sustaina(le MiniBFar#ingM 44. Perspective, Principles, Techni>ues and .istory. Pournal of Sustaina(le Agriculture, &D ;$= M <EBH<$%%& AMP245, 5... and S. Padel. ;eds= $%%%. The -cono#ics of *rganic Far#ingM An 4nternational Perspective. CA! 4nternational, Gallingford, U2. -U, A. $%%H. *rganic Agriculture Can Feed the Gorld in *rganic Far#ing, Ginter $%%H, citing Pules Pretty, $%%<. httpM,,+++.ri#isp.org,getdoc.phpRdocidV<::% *P-U, M.) and T.C. Mendoza. $%%:. Far#ers6 Adaptive Strategies in AiceB(ased Far#ing Syste#s in Masantol, Pa#panga, Philippines. Pournal of Sustaina(le Agriculture $:;&=MEB$E. UCAS M-P, .C et al. $%%<. Fuelling a Food CrisisM The i#pact of pea3 oil on food security. The Ireens,-uropean Free Alliance, -uropean Parlia#ent. MAI1*FF, F.and A.A. Geil. $%%:. Soil *rganic Matter in Sustaina(le Agric. CAC Press C FD8 p.

MC AUI. 45, 5.!., et al. $%%%. Co#parison of energy inputs for inorganic fertilizer and #anure (ased corn production. .anadian /gricultural 0ngineering :$;&=M &FBFE M-51*UA TC.$%&F Achieving Far# Multifunctionality through a S#allBScale !iodiverse, 4ntegrated and *rganic ;!4*= Method of Far#ing. Paper presented to the Asia Pacific Aegional Sy#posiu# on -ntrepreneurship and 4nnovation in *rganic Far#ing held on 1ec.$B:. !ang3o3, Thailand M-51*UA T.C. &DD<. Upscaling the Adoption of -cologically Sound Agricultural Practices in the Philippines. Paper presented during the <th 4nternational Conference on Per#aculture held at Perth, Gestern Australia. httpM,,per#aculture+est.org.au,ipc<,ch%<,#endoza,inde/.ht#l

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M-51*UA T.C. $%%:. 1e#andBled Pro#otion of *rganic Far#ing. AA5*A 5e+sletter 4ssue &, )olu#e $, August $%%:. Asian Aesearch 5et+or3 on *rganic Agriculture ;AA5*A=, South 2orea. M-51*UA T.C. $%%:. -valuating the !enefits of *rganic Far#ing Method in Aice Agroecosyste#s in the Philippines. 1ournal of ustainable /griculture. $:;$=MDFB&&: M-51*UA T.C. $%%E. An -nergyB!ased Analysis of *rganic, o+ -/ternal 4nput Sustaina(le K Conventional Agriculture. &hil$ /gric$ cientist 88 ;F= M $EH N $<H. M-51*UA T.C. $%%8. Ghy food prices increase K +hat can (e done. &hilippine 1ournal of .rop cience FF;$=M 8HB&%& M-51*UA T.C.$%%&.C*$BIreenhouse IasBreducing Potentials of So#e -cological Agriculture Practices in the Philippine andscape. &hilippine 1ournal of .rop cience $<;F=M F& M-51*UAT.C. &DD:. Adoption of soil (enefiting agricultural practices for lo+land rice production in the Philippines. &hilippine /griculturist HH;$=M$FEB$:&. PF-4FF-A, 1.A. $%%F. -atingFossilFuels. httpM,,+++.fro#the+ilderness.co#,free,++F,&%%F%F[eating[oil.ht#l P4M-5T- , 1. &DD:. Constraints on the -/pansion of Ilo(al Food Supply, 2indell, .enry .. and Pi#entel, 1avid. A#(io )ol. $F 5o. F, May &DD:. The Aoyal S+edish Acade#y of Sciences. httpM,,+++.dieoff.co#,pageF<ht# P4M-5T- , 1., P. .-PP-A C, P. .A5S*5, 1. 1*U1S, and A. Seidel. $%%E. -nviron#ental, energetic and econo#ic co#parisons of organic and conventional far#ing syste#s. Bio cience EEMEHFNE8$. D D PA-TTC, P. and A. .45-. $%%&. Aeducing food poverty +ith sustaina(le agricultureM A su##ary of ne+ evidence. Final Aeport fro# the \SAF- Gorld] Aesearch Pro@ect, University of -sse/. Availa(le at Ge( siteM httpM,,+++$.esse/.ac.u3,ces,AesearchProgra##es,SAF-Ge/ecsu##finalreport.ht# PA-TTC, P.5., P.4 .M*A4S*5, and A.-..45-. $%%F. Aeducing food poverty (y increasing agricultural sustaina(ility in developing countries. /griculture! 0cos"stems and 0nvironment DEM$&HN$F: AA &%%<8 Philippine *rganic Agriculture Act of $%&%. ;$%&%=. Arellano a+ Foundation. Aetrieved Septe#(er F%, $%&%, fro# httpM,,+++.la+phil.net,statutes,repacts,ra$%&%,ra[&%%<8[$%&%.ht#l A4I!C, 1. and 1. CAC-A-S. $%%&. *rganic far#ing and the sustaina(ility of agricultural syste#s. /gric$ "stems <8M$&B :%. A*1* F*,2. $%%8. ^Pea3 *ilM The Ilo(al Crisis of 1i#inishing Petroleu# Supply and 4ts 4#plications for the Philippines. /sian tudies 1ournal :&;&=M:&B&%& SC4A A!!A, 5. -lB.. K C..ATTAM ;eds=. $%%$. *rganic Agriculture, -nviron#ent, and Food Security. Food and Agriculture *rganization of the United 5ations, Ao#e, 4taly.

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S-)-A, . -., T.-.AA!UC2 -, and A. SG--5-C. &DDH. Aeproductive and develop#ental effects of occupational pesticide e/posureM the epide#iologic evidence. *ccup. Med. &$, F%EBF$E. STA5.4 , I. &DD%. The co#parative productivity of organic agriculture. /griculture 0cos"stems /nd 0nvironment F% ;&DD%=, &B$< T4 MA5, 1, P. FAAI4*5-, !. G* F, C. 1?A5T*54*, A. 1*!S*5, A. .*GAT., 1. SC.451 -A, G. .. SC. -S45I-A, 1. S4M!-A *FF, and 1. S. GAC2.AM-A. $%%&. Forecasting agriculturally driven glo(al environ#ental change. cience $%%&, $D$, $8&B:. T4 MA5, 1., 2.I. CASSMA5, P. A. MATS*5, A. 5AC *A, and S. P* AS2C. $%%$. Agricultural sustaina(ility and intensive production practices. )ature :&8M<H&N<HH. U5 -SCAP. Sustaina(le Agriculture and F**1 S-CUA4TC 45 Asia and the Pacific. +++.unescap.org. !ang3o3, Thailand U5-P. $%&%. IA--5 -C*5*MC. A (rief for policy #a3ers on the green econo#y and M1I. Prepared for the U5 Su##it on M1Is. U5PF ;United 5ations Population Fund=. $%%8. Gorld Population to $F%%. 5e+ Cor3M United 5ations. httpM,,+++.unfpa.org,s+p, )41A , P. $%%H. 7Ilo(al Food Crisis oo#s as Cli#ate Change and Fuel Shortages !ite,7 %he 2uardian, 5ov. F, $%%H httpM,,+++.guardian.co.u3,environ#ent,$%%H,nov,%F,food.cli#atechange )4 -IAS, PM and .M Custodio. $%&F. SocioBecono#ics and Policy support to+ards enhancing the organic vegeta(les industry in the Philippines. Paper presented to the Asia Pacific Aegional Sy#posiu# on -ntrepreneurship and 4nnovation in *rganic Far#ing held on 1ec.$B:. !ang3o3, Thailand -A, .. and M. CUSS-F. $%%&. *rganic Agriculture Gorld+ide $%%&M Statistics and Future Prospects. Foundation for -cology and Agriculture, Stuttgart, Ier#any.

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G*AT.45IT*5, ). $%%&. 5utritional >uality of organic versus conventional fruits, vegeta(les, and grains. 1ournal of .omplimentar" 3edicine H 5o. $M &<&B&HF