What do you think about the Farmers in the Philippines?

This is my perspective on farmers in the Philippines. Farming is a practice of art and science aimed at generating a substantial harvest to provide inputs to other industries. It serves as the foundation for every product consumed by consumers.

Farming involves a venture where farmers invest thousands in the soil annually, hoping for returns. However, they often face negative returns on their investment. Their produce is sometimes sold at a lower price due to a lack of government support, profiteering by middlemen in trading prices, and a lack of connection to large enterprises.

Their profession, which involves cultivating and producing food and resources, has been essential throughout history and continues to be so. However, only a few people truly grasp the depth and complexity of the work that farmers do.

What's even more worrisome is that individuals who lack a genuine understanding of farming often try to impose their own ideas or opinions on how farmers should carry out their practices. This can be problematic because it disregards the expertise and knowledge that farmers have accumulated over generations. It highlights the importance of respecting and appreciating the hard work and expertise of farmers, as well as being cautious about making uninformed judgments or decisions about their methods.

Farmers are truly skilled, as they learn methods through experience rather than formal education. They can apply farming techniques on various slopes and types of land conditions. Example of this are the Ifugao farmers of Hagdan-hagdang Palayan in Banawe.

Farmers make sacrifices with their time for their families, hard work, and the hazards they might face in the mountains or on their farmlands.

Local farmers continue to live in poverty, and their financial situation hasn't improved over the years. They remain trapped in the cycle of struggling due to a lack of financial literacy.

Is the problem really about lacking financial literacy? I thought so. They can actually optimize their land and time, but not all farmers, especially those in rural parts of the country, even know how to utilize their finances for their inputs.

How can local and small farmers in the Philippines truly survive their challenging situations?