Villar: Technology is key to be successful in farming

MANILA, Philippines — It is wrong to say that farmlands should not be converted to build houses or factories as these are also necessary for the country’s economy.

This was the remark of Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday in her opening statement during the Senate hearing on the state of the dairy industry in the country, saying technology is key for people to be successful in farming and not lands.

She made Israel as an example in farming, saying that Israel is in the middle of the desert where lands are not fertile or compatible for planting yet people in Israel are net exporters in the Middle East.

“Sa Israel, wala silang lupa, disyerto sila kaya hina-hang nila ‘yung kanilang mga plant sa air. Wala silang tubig, kasi ang tubig lang nila nanggagaling sa ocean, salty, dini-desalinate nila,” she said.

(In Israel, they don’t have lands. They are in the desert so they hang their plants. They also don’t have water because their water comes from the sea, they desalinate it.)

“Yet they are net exporter of vegetable in the Middle East. So, ito ‘yung sinasabi natin na hindi kailangan ng lupa, hindi kailangan ng tubig. Kailangan natin ay technology to be successful in farming,” Villar said.

(Yet they are net exporters of vegetables in the Middle East. This is what we say that we don’t need lands or water. What we need is technology to be successful in farming.)

She proceeded to say that it is wrong to say that farmlands in the country should not be converted into houses and factories

“‘Yung sinasabi na huwag daw i-convert ang farmland para magtayo ng bahay at huwag i-convert ang farmland para magtayo ng factory, mali ‘yon,” the senator said.

(What they are saying that farmlands shouldn’t be converted into houses, shouldn’t be converted to factories, is wrong.)

She added that factories can be built in cities across the country then lands outside cities can be turned into farmlands.

“Hindi naman lahat gustong i-convert to homes and commercial, yung mga city lang ‘yun eh. Bakit ipagbabawal ‘yon eh importante rin yung sa ekonomiya,” she added.

(All lands will not be converted into homes and commercial. Why will it be prohibited when it is important for the economy.)

“Dito sa Israel matutunan natin na hindi amount of land, and the amount of water, it’s the technology that will improve our agriculture,” she further said.

(In Israel, we learn that we don’t need the amount of land, and the amount of water, it’s the technology that will improve our agriculture.)

JPV