Russia Israel Vietnam Thailand China Philippines

Economic Agriculture remains Israel has Vietnam is the Thailand has a long China’s agriculture One of the major challenges
situation in one of the main limited land and country with the agricultural tradition sector is one of the for the Philippine economy is
agriculture sector sectors of the water resources, largest agricultural and remains the key largest in the world. It to sustain its agricultural
economy in Russia, making it land in Southeast sector of the Thai accounts for about production. The Philippines
accounting for challenging for Asia. It has a total economy. The one-third of the has a lot of potential for
13.8% of the GDP the country to area of 4.7 million country has limited country’s GDP, agricultural growth, but a
and around 30% of be self- square kilometers. freshwater employs about 350 number of factors have
employment. sufficient in the resources, so it must million people, and hindered it. One of these
agricultural The agriculture rely on other water accounts for about factors is the increasing
Agriculture is sector. sector accounts for sources for 15% of global dependency on imported food
labor-intensive, about 13.96% of irrigation. Thailand agricultural and other goods. The country
with more than half In the past GDP while it has also has limited production. also faces increased
of all Russian years, the sector been a major arable land, so it competition from other
workers engaged in has had its employer, with 18 must compete for China is a massive countries that are better able to
farming. The main strengths and million Vietnamese, land with other uses, producer and produce similar products at a
crops include weaknesses, as despite its decline such as urban areas consumer of food, lower cost. This has resulted in
wheat, sunflower, indicated by the from 2012-2019. and commercial including meat, some farmers being unable to
soybeans, barley, production Still, almost 50% of agricultural soybeans, rice, and profit from their work.
and corn. volume of rural households operations. The wheat. China also
specific crops reported their country needs to produces various other
Unfortunately, and food. primary source of focus on improving agricultural products,
Russia’s agriculture income is from its agricultural including fruits,
sector experience But still, a little agriculture. productivity. vegetables, and tea.
fluctuations in below 1 percent
different aspects. of the working Vietnam is the The food inflation China’s agriculture
Based on the World population is fourth largest rice rate increased by relies heavily on
Bank’s data in into agriculture. producer in the 9.82 percent. government subsidies
2020, Russia’s world, and it is also to keep prices low and
value-added Israel remains one of the largest ensure adequate
agriculture dependent on exporters of coffee, supply. The
increased from imports in rubber, pepper, and government also
$45.9 billion in agriculture cashew nuts. Its frequently intervenes
2000 to $66.2 because of the main crops are rice, to control prices by
billion in 2019, lack of arable coffee, rubber, and managing supply or
which is good land and water cashew nuts. imposing production
progress. However, suitable for The food inflation quotas. Despite its
a share of the sector agriculture. In rate increased by large size, China’s
in the country’s 2020, 2.10 percent. agriculture sector
GDP declined from agricultural faces significant
5.8% to 3.4% in the product imports challenges. It faces
same period. reached $7.09 increasing competition
Employment also billion. from imports as well
declined from as new technology that
14.5% to 5.5% for Food inflation is reshaping the
the same period. In in Israel industry in ways that
comparison, the increased by are difficult to predict.
production per 3.30 percent.
worker increased Additionally, its
from $4800 to centralized planning
$16500, which system makes it
increased the difficult for farmers to
sector’s take advantage of
competitiveness. market opportunities
or find ways to adapt
An inflation rate of to new technologies
6.7% in 2021 was and conditions.
calculated in
Russia.

There are several

challenges in the
sector:
1. There is a
shortage of
skilled
 workforce
in the
agricultural
industry.
2. There is a
shortage of
modern
technologies
and
equipment.
3. There is a
shortage of
sufficient
land for
cultivation.

Modernization of agriculture toward food sufficiency and competitiveness

The six countries have similarities and differences in their approach to the modernization of the agriculture sector. All six countries also provide agricultural
subsidies to the industry with different goals.

Russia’s modernization focuses on subsidies for farmers to help them purchase appropriate technical equipment. China, on the other hand, focuses on research and
scientific breakthroughs. China leads the world in genome research and applications for paddy rice, cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers. A note worth a breakthrough
is their super rice, genetically modified corn, and soybeans, to name a few.

Israel and Vietnam share the same approach to imposing tariffs on imported goods. Israel wants to simplify its tariff system. Their quota-driven farm and water
production has stabilized the country’s commodities prices. The production quotas apply to milk, eggs, poultry, and potatoes to ensure they cater to the demand of
their people. Vietnam, on the other hand, ensures their local farmers will have sufficient tariff protection.

The Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand provide agricultural subsidies directly to their farmers through domestic price support or price intervention, short-term
policies, or ‘‘ayuda’’ in the Philippines. The three countries also enhance their knowledge-based and skill-based agricultural practices to ensure food security.
Thailand has shifted from a quantity-oriented production to a demand-driven and high-value-added agribusiness to keep up with other countries in Southeast Asia.
The Philippines also invests in agricultural startups and increases the use of e-commerce to modernize the Philippines’ agricultural sector.
3. As the consultant of the secretary of Agriculture, I will provide the following recommendations:

Scrap the Rice Tariffication Law:

While the key points of the passage of the RTL are to lower retail prices for consumers; address the rice shortage; lower inflation rates; and intervene to support rice farmers
through the RCEF program, the cons of the law outweighs the pros based from the experiences of rice farmers on the ground. The cons of the RTL, as experienced by local
farmers, include the lack of safety nets for Filipino farmers as the local grains will compete with cheap rice imports. Farmers will lose in the competition if imported products are
cheaper than locally produced ones.

Implementation of a genuine Agrarian Reform Program

Farmers remain landless in the Philippines, with only 1 out of 10 farmers till their land. Distributing and giving land to the landless will have a massive impact on the agricultural
sector. All qualified beneficiaries will be given parcels of lands, for free, on the condition that these lands shall be for the sole purpose of tilling the land. If the farmer-beneficiary
can no longer till the land for one reason or another, he shall transfer this to his heir willing to cultivate the land.

Establishing “Community Gardens”:

When COVID-19 hit the country, the food security issue alarmed the nation. The establishment of community pantries proved that collective action could provide an alternative to
ease the hunger problem. The concept of the community pantry shares the same idea as the community garden. Establishing “community gardens” in suburban areas will help ease
hunger, and this will reduce the problem of food security. Two or more clusters in a barangay or barrio will develop a small parcel of land in their community and transform it into
a community garden. Every household will participate in the development and management of the community garden. During harvest, the produce will be shared with all the
families involved in the community garden.

Establish Local Agricultural System on Crop Diversification

Crop diversification campaign through field demonstrations, trainings and workshops, the farmers and other support system will know better the practices of crop diversification,
which have huge positive impact to crop productivity and food security.

Strengthen Research-based Farming

Scientific capacities for management of crop production, through direct participation of DOST and other external research firms need to be imprioved. This will be done through
direct participation in selection and evaluation process of new locally adapted crop production.