(CARP) Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

This program aims to help farmers through equitable distribution of land ownership, however, due to poor implementation this has become one of the reasons leading to a farmer’s losses in money. The average farmland size of the Philippines is now less than 1.5 hectares due to the declining income from traditional crops. Although it would be possible to produce a decent profit from high-value crops like vegetables or flowers, the majority of farmers typically produce corn and rice, therefore, making it more difficult to produce enough profit to support each of their families. Based on gathered data, the CARP initiative has reduced an average farm’s size by 34 percent and decreased the share of landless individuals by 20 percent. The poor implementation of this program has only caused more harm than improvement to the Philippine agricultural sector and is

$500 MILLION ADB LOAN

On January 27, 2023, The Asian Development Bank approved a $500 million to support the Philippine Government’s initiatives toward the country’s agricultural sector. This loan also provides the provision of cash transfers to smallholder rice farmers, loans for agricultural enterprises, and farmers and fisherfolk recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Other than that, this also specifically targets Subprogram 2 of the Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program which seeks to develop the Philippines’ agricultural trade policy, enhance public services and finance for the sector, and social protection of rural families.