FILE PHOTO: Filipino farmer planting rice. WILLIE LOMIBAO/ INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robinhood Padilla said on Thursday that farmers and fishers need help to become entrepreneurs.
Padilla proposed having a cooperative to help them start businesses.
He said it’s not fair that farmers and fishers are poor even though they help put food on the table.
“Kailangan maging businessman na rin ‘yung ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Kailangan mailagay na po nila sa sarili nila na sila ay businessman,” he said.
(Our farmers and fishermen must become businessmen. They need to regard themselves as such.)
“Nakakalungkot man po isipin at namnamin na kung sino pa ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho para sa ating pagkain, sila po ‘yung nasa bingit talaga ng kahirapan,” he also said.
(It is sad to think that those who work for our food are the ones on the brink of poverty.)
“Kasi nakakaawa na po ang mga magsasaka natin. ‘Yung mga anak nila ayaw na nilang gawing magsasaka,” he added.
(Our farmers are pitiful. They do not want their children to become farmers.)
The Cooperative Development Authority Deputy Administrator, Ray Elevazo, promised Padilla he would ask the Department of Trade and Industry for help for the farmers.
Recently, some onion farmers had to take their own lives because of their large losses and owing money.
READ: Losses driving onion farmers to desperation
Aside from losses, farmers and fishers reel from the impact of importation on their produce.
READ: PH fishers seek end to fish importation