NASSA calls on government to protect farmers’ rights

The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), National Secretariat of Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA) yesterday called on the government to shift their policies and programs from global free trade, to the promotion and strengthening of sustainable agricultural initiatives in order to improve the quality of life of the farmers.

In a press conference held at the CBCP media office in Intramuros, Manila, NASSA in a statement, has urged also the public sector to support and protect the farmer sector’s rights. They urged the public to initiate debate and direct action on issues and problems confronting farmers, including agricultural biotechnology, patenting of life forms, anti-people and anti-poor provisions of Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).

NASSA also urged for support for the campaign for a just and sound agrarian reform program; urged the national and local government and the business community to help build and establish local and community-based markets for agricultural produce; and support and participate in building and strengthening a sustainable agricultural network that adopts principles of sustainable development tempered with Church Social Teachings.

"Government policies and programs are geared toward opening up the country’s economy to global free trade. Development aggression in the form of land conversion and other anti-farmer methods further impoverish farmers. With the market swamped with imported agricultural produce, the country’s farmers lose in the cutthroat competition promoted by globalization," said NASSA.

NASSA, the social action arm of the CBCP, also celebrates today the first Farmers’ Day. The celebration, to be held annually starting this year, falls on the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers.

While feting farmers for their contribution to national development, NASSA also lamented the deplorable conditions confronting them.

"Majority of our farmers remain landless. They are mired in poverty characterized by insufficient income, homelessness, lack of access to basic services and inability to afford higher education for their children," said NASSA. – Sandy Araneta