By: Michael A. Dunuan
The Philippines is an agricultural country and a large part of its population still depends on farming, fishing, livestock and forestry for their daily subsistence – the four sub-sectors of agriculture. As the country sets its goals towards industrialization, communities tend to shift their efforts towards less labor intensive and least back-breaking processes. One of the effects of industrialization is, sadly, the abandonment of agriculture and the conversion of agricultural lands to residential subdivisions, commercial warehouses, industrial plants and recreational parks. As for farmers, they find it easier, and perhaps more profitable, to sell their farms to the highest bidder rather than endure the back breaking work of producing palay and food. What happens now is the phenomenon known to be the fragmentation of agricultural lands.
This phenomenon refers to the subdivision of farmlands into smaller noncontiguous plots scattered over a wide area and intermixed with commercial or non-agricultural land uses. It is a feature of a less developed agricultural system that stems from social, economic, and political conditions in which farmers are greatly affected. Hence, it is considered as a major obstacle to the development of agriculture.
FIG. 1 The sprawl of urbanization causing land fragmentation in southern Rizal from 1984 to 2015.
The fragmentation of agricultural land can be observed by comparing satellite maps and pictures of such areas taken on different dates. For this article, Google Earth Pro is used in examining changes in the landscape of the nearby provinces of Metro Manila. Using the software’s timeline feature, the once great expanse of green-covered area is now surrounded by gray-covered areas resulting to fragments and patches of irregularly-shaped agricultural lands. Fragmentation can also be identified where rice fields and rice paddies which were once bordered by rice dikes/embankments (pilapil) are now bordered by walls or ditches.
Government economic programs geared toward industrialization
During the 1990s, the CALABARZON Project, proposed by former president Corazon Aquino, was set to promote industrialization in the nearby provinces of Metro Manila. However, the Scientists’ Action Committee, an organization of biologists and engineers from the University of the Philippines, criticized the project. They believed that it would be detrimental to both farmers and the development of science and technology in the Philippines. However, under Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, industries were dispersed to the neighboring areas outside of Metro Manila such that industrial estates and residential subdivisions popped up everywhere in the rural areas of Laguna and Cavite.
It appears that local government units lean toward non-agricultural land uses because these generate more income and more employment opportunities to the communities. With these as priorities, laws are crafted to suit industrialization rather than promoting agriculture.
Economic considerations put pressure on farmers
As the population steadily increases, so does the demand for shelter and decent living spaces increases. Subdivision developers now set their sights on the agricultural lands that have either become abandoned or lost its productivity to become the sites for prime residential subdivisions and recreational parks. As these land conversions happen, the market value of the land increases. With the increase in value, vis-à-vis the expense and effort to cultivate the land, farmers now opt to sell their lands to the highest bidders.
FIG. 4 Lands of Binangonan being converted to residential areas.
A 2007 study of the changing patterns of agricultural lands in Imus, Cavite shows a shift in its landscape from an agricultural to an urban area in a span of 15 years (1980 to 1995). The rapid urban expansion of Metro Manila and the construction of the Molino highway paved the way for favorable investments in the area. Agricultural lands used for rice production decreased by 44 percent, and residential and commercial lots increased in land values; making the built-up density increase, too, from 9 to 35 units per square kilometer. Of course, agricultural land fragmentation became worse.
FIG. 3 The change in agricultural landscape in Imus, Cavite from 1984, 1995 to 2017.
The study also explained that rainfed-terraced farms were more vulnerable to land conversions than flat-lowland farms. This is due to low productivity and profit as a result of the difficulty in water supply.
Binangonan – slowly being consumed by Metro Manila’s urban sprawl
FIG. 3 Satellite view of Binangonan
Neighboring provinces of Metro Manila are now on its way to urban development. Capitalists bring their businesses and industries to these neighboring provinces to decentralize the power of the country’s capital. And when people migrate to these provinces, Metro Manila becomes less populated and polluted. Hopefully, too, the daily traffic becomes less congested.
Raymond Rufino, Co-president and a Director of the Net Group, said that developing these areas is advantageous for decentralizing Metro Manila’s wealth and for securing national survival. Meanwhile, David Leechiu, Chief Executive Officer of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), added that provinces such as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal are ideal areas for information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry.
While urban development in the areas outside Metro Manila spells profit for businessmen, this signifies disaster for local farmers.
In a span of ten years (1980-1990) in Binangonan, Rizal alone, 65% of the agricultural lands were converted to residential, commercial, and industrial areas. This means only 1460.5 of the 2232.4 hectares is devoted to agriculture.
In an interview with the local farmers of the municipality, most of whom are elderly, they forlornly recall the lush green fields and farms of Binangonan and that of the nearby towns Teresa and Angono. Their rice fields and gardens were mostly located along the coastline of Laguna de Bay since water from the lake served as irrigation. Roads traversed the coastline for easy access to and transport of agricultural products to market. Soon enough, these areas experienced progress and development; built-up areas grew linearly with respect to the roads fragmenting the municipal’s agricultural landscape. Today, most of the agricultural lands are now bordered by factories and subdivisions such the Rizal Cement Subdivision, Camella Rizal, and Santorini Estate Subdivision; as well as business industries such as the Grandspan Development Corporation and Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos. These subdivisions and industries are interspersed among the surviving farms and rice fields.
The disappearance of agricultural lands may be attributed mainly to the lack of irrigation especially in the hilly areas of Binangonan, and in the dwindling numbers of farmers willing to endure tilling the land.
“Kaya naman nawawala ang mga sakahan at ipinagbibili ay dahil sa kawalan ng irigasyon. Hindi inaabot ng patubig, e di syempre, ang ginagawa nung iba ipinagbibili para gawing hanap buhay”, Tirso dela Cruz San Felipe pointed out.
According to Merilyn D. Domingo, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture-Binangonan, stated that deep wells and small farm reservoirs (SFRs) were constructed to address Binangonan’s lack of irrigation. Waters from the subdivision were even directed to the farms. However, these interventions did not effectively solve the problem.
The fragmentation resulted to less production, and worsened the pollution along water sources meant for irrigation like creeks and the Laguna de Bay. If only to emphasize Rodel Olquina Baljadiq’s point, farmers have become tricycle drivers.
Baljadiq expressed, “‘Yung iba hindi na nagsasaka, nagtatricycle na lang. Kita mo ‘yung iba, ‘yung mga kalabaw nila, ibinenta na, ginawa na lang tricycle para madali ang kita.”
The other side of the coin - less land, more output
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Binangonan, thru the initiatives of the Department of Agriculture, headed by Vilma P. Dematera, has set out plans to resolve the effects of the phenomenon.
According to Domingo, programs, seminars and trainings are conducted to educate and teach farmers techniques and ways to effectively and efficiently produce more crops in small-scale land areas.
“Maraming nagde-demo para sa gulay para organik. Yun ang nagpapalaki ng ani sa maliit na lupa,” Baljadiq said.
Also, the LGU of Binangonan provides fertilizers and seeds to its farmers and provides scholarship grants to the farmers’ children.
Rolando Anoy, president of Tatala Farmers’ Association, added that the LGU of Binangonan extends its support to the farmers.
However, amidst all of their knowledge and efforts in farming, he believes the problem still lies in the few arable lands in Binangonan.
The Thomasian Engineer (TE), the official student publication of the Faculty of Engineering, is doing a series of special reports on different topics of engineering.
This first article of the TE's special reports on the Fragmentation of Agricultural Lands in Luzon aims to raise awareness and start conversations online on the challenges of our own agriculture.
Team Behind:
Lead Researcher: Michael Dunuan
Researchers:
Rendel Ang
Jhoana Fidel
Miko Halim
Cinematographer and Editor: Jayvee Fulgencio
REFERENCES:
1. Dhakal, B., & Khanal, N. (2018). Causes and Consequences of Fragmentation of Agricultural Land: A Case of Nawalparasi District, Nepal. Geographical Journal of Nepal, 11, 95-112. https://doi.org/10.3126/gjn.v11i0.19551
2. Encyclopedia of the Nations. (2007, May 5). Philippines - Agriculture. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Philippines-AGRICULTURE.html
3. Malaque, I. R., & Yokohari, M. (2007). Urbanization process and the changing agricultural landscape pattern in the urban fringe of Metro Manila, Philippines. Environment and Urbanization, 19(1), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247807076782
4. Mondejar, N. (1990). Some Thoughts on Current Filipino Peasant Worldview. Agham Tao,7, 76-96. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from http://116.50.242.171/PSSC/index.php/agt01/index
7. Satellite images taken from Google Earth Pro
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