India Is Optimistic About Philippine Agriculture – We Filipinos Should Learn From India!

On Facebook, PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar quietly shares some good news in Philippine Agriculture: “India Vows Support For Agriculture[1]” by Eireene Jairee Gomez (27 March 2021, Manila Times):

Speaking at the General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Fisheries Inc (PCAFI) on Friday, Shambhu Kumaran, Ambassador of India to the Philippines, recognized the old connections between the two countries, which (seek) to build up people-driven and people-centered partnerships. The Indian government has vowed to strengthen (its) long-standing cooperation with the Philippines, particularly in the areas of intensifying technological transfer in the country’s agriculture and (fisheries).

Old connections – Here are a few items of note: Filipino culture has “Indian influences[2]” (Wikipedia). About 30% of the Tagalog language is loanwords from Sanskrit; the uses of brass, bronze, copper and tin in the Philippine decorative arts and metal works also have Indian origins. And an Indian-Philippine Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was signed during the state visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on 05 October 2007.

Modern connections – Globally, “The Philippines is the preferred destination for financial services and voice-based support[3]” (call center industry); that is according to an Indian himself, Deepak Kapoor, founding member, Business Processing Industry Association of India. I know that with our American English, we are better than the Indians with their British English; besides, American English is the preferred business language of the world.

But the Indians are ahead in technology, that is why we need them, especially for our farmers and fishers.

I say yes, “To strengthen” cooperation “particularly in the areas of intensifying technological transfer in the country’s agriculture and fisheries.” (Above, lower image[4] is from India; Analytics Insight.)

Mr Kumaran says that India has resolved the common problems of developing countries: low productivity, difficulty of accessing credit, promoting mechanization of farming, reducing postharvest losses, building more robust farm-to-market linkages, and climate change. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, India was a highly import-dependent economy. Today, however, he says, “We are one of the largest producers of food grains, in addition to feeding our 1.3 billion people, we are able to share some surplus for the export market.”

Mr Kumaran tells his audience there is a need for the Philippines to “build resilience and reliability in its agriculture supply chain and at the same time improve food safety.”

Kumaran says technology has became a “critical” multiplier and enabler for Indian agriculture. “We would like to invite you (to) a voyage of discovery of India’s agritech ecosystem,” Mr Kumaran tells PCAFI members. As to small and marginalized farmers who have difficulties accessing credit, “I think the Indian experience can be replicable in the Philippine context.”

Mr Kumaran advises Philippine agriculture officials not to lose optimism in the sector. He says:

One of the things I personally noticed about farmers is their resilience, their toughness. They’re extremely optimistic even in the most difficult times. And I believe that we need to keep that spirit of optimism.

Yes Sir, Mr Kumaran!@517


[1]https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/03/27/business/business-top/india-vows-support-for-agriculture/855901/

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Philippines_relations

[3]https://www.magellan-solutions.com/blog/philippines-vs-india-which-one-is-better-in-bpo-services/

[4]https://www.analyticsinsight.net/technology-can-benefit-agriculture-farmers-india/

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