Why does it always have to be the farmers who are receiving the least attention from the government?
The difficulties faced by the 55-member Sadiri Farmers Organization (SFO) in Barangay Namnama in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao answers this question. The SFO is a case in point.
Members are poor. They are in dire need of help from the government. The government’s agriculture modernization program has proven to be a failure, and has gotten in the way of the town’s economic growth and development. All of this says that farmers are feeling neglected because of the lack of assistance from the government.
Measuring people’s happiness must go hand in hand with refocusing the mindset on really improving the conditions of farmers. Doubling the government’s investment in the agriculture sector in the local and national level would make the farming infrastructure more proactive.
Soil tillers of Namnama are currently feeling the ill-effects of the high cost of living.
For a village blessed with fertile soil and hardworking inhabitants, it is an irony that poverty incidence is so high. Its economy thrives on agricultural production of corn, rice, sugar cane and vegetables.
Eliminating poverty, equalizing economic opportunities and improving the welfare of Namnama folks are major concerns to be addressed. By all means, these problems should be addressed swiftly and decisively.
“Farming is very important in our barangay, so we need to build up a strong agriculture sector,” Punong Barangay Joseph Lista said in an exclusive interview.
Lista, a long standing dedicated public servant is the lone surviving grandson of the late Mayor Alfonso Lista who founded the town, out of then Potia town. He is one of the town’s tireless barangay government official. Also, he is the vice president of the SFO.
Journalist Anthony Araos, one of the three main guests of the SFO’s monthly meeting, lauded the efforts of the SFO and Namnama Barangay Council to boost the farming sector. “How do you really eliminate the poverty problem?” he asked. “When it comes to the agriculture sector’s best interest, we have to end subsistence farming,” he said.
“A genuine push for farm mechanization is very significant in terms of infrastructure development in the rural areas. This is the essence of boosting the resilience and competitiveness of our farmers,” he added.
As Alfonso Lista’s private sector leaders should now work with the government to invigorate the public trust and confidence in the agriculture sector.
Strengthening this sector’s capacity to significantly register more crop yields got strong support from noted civilian sector leaders Victor Sampayan and Engr. Ferdinand Santiago. Members are very fortunate to have them in the activity.
Interestingly, the private sector plays a key role in raising the awareness of farmers’ contributions to the society.
Bearing this in mind, the incoming Alfonso Lista officials should make it a point in having a physical presence in depressed barangay as this one to deliver social services to the people at all times.
President Vilma Limon, Rowena Ngitew and Sabrina Vitudio, who all actively took part in the activity as well as the other officers, are all “wealth creators.” Farmers feed the nation. For the benefit of present and future generations of farmers, ensuring that a comfortable life for all of them is attained, this is what every farmer deserves. **By Anthony A. Araos