Tag: agriculture

The Philippines is reverting back to an agrarian economy thanks to COVID-19

August 11, 2020 benign0 6 Comments

Nothing necessarily bad about agrarian societies though these get their bad rep from their association with the Third World and “underdevelopment”. Some “economists” would measure “modernisation” in terms of the proportion of the workforce employed in agriculture. As the thinking goes, a progressive shift in the workforce from farming to manufacturing and services and, therefore,…

Business, Development, Economy

Rappler “economist” @JCPunongbayan is growing up!

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 benign0 10 Comments

First it was high prices and “galloping inflation” — something the Philippines’ community of snowflake “activists” screeched about. Now everybody’s panties are in a knot over crashing rice prices at the farmgate. So what is really behind the movement of prices? Just last year, resident economics “expert” JC Punongbayan fixated on the nuances in the…

Economy, Education

The increase in rice prices is not an act of God nor is it an act of Duterte

September 19, 2018 benign0 48 Comments

The “debate” around the best short-term solution to combat the rise of the prices of rice mirrors the overall flaw in the traditional “activist” rhetoric. Shrill communist and Opposition “activists” want lower prices (supposedly empathising with the kawawa naman poor). Yet they cannot reconcile this cry for cheap rice with the plight of the farmers…

Economy

Why the Kidapawan massacre is a climate issue

April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 Roy Joseph Roberto 27 Comments

The Kidapawan massacre and the Syrian refugee crisis demonstrate an interesting parallel. According to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a torrent of climate refugees will be a new challenge if world leaders fail to forge an ambitious, robust, and binding global climate deal in Paris held in December 2015. He emphasized that climate change is…

Environment, Government, Society

The Aquino name is now synonymous with the word ‘massacre’ #BigasHindiBala

April 2, 2016April 3, 2016 Ilda 35 Comments

Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s term will now go down in history as the massacre years. If Aquino supporters can blame all atrocities committed by members of the military and police on the late former President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law years, then it is only fair that Filipinos blame the atrocities committed by…

Crime, Economy, Government

Best opportunity for the Philippines – A Manifesto for development

February 6, 2014February 6, 2014 Hugh Stanley 30 Comments

The following is a list of the real opportunities that exist and which could be grasped by an administration with sufficient foresight and determination. Agriculture. • Fine wool production. The land above 700 meters in Luzon, Mindoro, Panay islands and Batanes can support about 10 million Merino sheep producing about 80 million kilos of wool…

Development, Economy, Environment, Government, Science, Technology

Singapore haze: Airborne waste from slash-and-burn agriculture descends upon the wealthy enclave

June 24, 2013 benign0 1 Comment

Singapore — resource-poor and dependent on services, exports, and tourists — is reeling from the effects of smog reportedly coming mainly from waste being burned in Indonesia’s palm plantations. For days, a haze has blanketed the prosperous city-state and the “smell of burning wood” has seeped into buildings making residents’ efforts to avoid its effects…

Economy, Environment

The Dying Lands

April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 coolass 75 Comments

The health of every individual on this planet involves a balanced coexistence among four major elements in an ecosystem: water, soil, plants and animals; and the fate of human civilization depends on the use-or mis-use of these natural resources. Plant and animal life, being capable of reproduction, are classed as “renewable resources”; but soil, in…