Coops fundamental to attaining food security — PBBM

Cooperatives could be a fundamental tool of agricultural development to attain food security.

This is how President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture, wanted the agency to develop in strengthening the local rice production.

He said farmers as members of cooperatives have high participation in supporting cooperatives to make products or business activities.

"Simulan na natin ang proseso ng pag-consolidate ng ating mga farmers association, ng ating mga cooperatives, lahat iyan upang mapunta tayo sa kalagayan na malalaki na ang ating tinataniman na lupa. That is what we are trying to do," the President said while tapping the Cooperative Development Agency to consolidate rice farmers' cooperatives in enhancing local rice production.

Marcos instructed the DA to spearhead giving training in management, business planning, accounting, bookkeeping, and other programs to the rice farmers cooperatives.

"Bigyan ng training (magsasakang). At sinasabi nung ano mag-techno demo tayo. Sabi ko ang magsasaka alam niya magtanim. Hindi marunong 'yan sa management, sa business planning, sa accounting, bookkeeping, 'yung mga simpleng bagay. Hindi naman talaga tine-training so 'yun ang dapat ginawa," he added.

In this way, the President explained, farmers benefit from the business activity of cooperatives in the forms of inputs supply (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.), credit or loan provision; and collective marketing.

"Yung mga lugar na walang kooperatiba, mag-organize. Ang pinaka-importante lamang ay kailangan maghanap ng farmer leader na sinusundan ng kanyang mga miyembro. Iyon ang pinakaimportante," the President ordered.

"The cooperatives are going to play a large part because you cannot talk to each farmer, but you can talk to the farmer leaders," he further explained.

Marcos believed that the increased productivity should be taken by farmers through the application of technologies recommended. Technologies practices could be managed under the farmers' cooperative.

"Ang traditional sasabihin nung congressman, sasabihin ng governor sa kasama niya, O, nakakuha ako ng pera para sa cooperative. Magtayo kayo ng cooperative para may pera kayo. Okay, so mayroon tayong 1 million sabihin natin. Iyong 1 million ibibigay doon sa cooperative. After one year, one year and a half, Boss, naubos na 'yung pera namin," Marcos stressed as an example.

"Sabi ko, hindi niyo naintindihan. Hindi ganyan ang cooperative. I-assess 'yung mga matitibay, 'yung mga well-functioning, well-managed (cooperative) ay tulungan natin. Ano ang pangangailangan ninyo para paramihin ninyo ang miyembro ninyo para palakihin ninyo ang ektarya na nasa ilalim ng kooperatiba ninyo," the President explained.

Cooperatives, according to the President, could respond to the market demand for production (certified seed) and the needs of farmers on agricultural inputs. He added that cooperatives have been successful in providing a profit share to members aside from supporting food security through increased productivity.

During his campaign, the President said he was a "great believer" in cooperatives because they served as the fastest way for information, programs, and benefits to reach the farmers.