William Dar Is Agriculture Secretary & DA Is All Over The Place – So Is Science!

I am reading yesterday's 926-word press statement of William Dar as the new PH Secretary of Agriculture (da.gov.ph), and: 

I'm not surprised William Dar means 100% business – and 100% science.

I'm surprised there is not a single news report based on that statement!

After 24 hours, today, Wednesday, 07 August 2019 in Manila as I finalize this, there is not a singlenewspaper report on that press statement.

I'm not really surprised because science is not the cup of tea of news writers, not to mention viewsmakers. (science image from Nature, blogs.nature.com)

Inquirer. Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Philippine Star – where are you!

Not even Rappler, who should be avant-garde. I remember I applied brazenly as a columnist – they did not understand my science?

I understand. Now then, this Guru is offering to hold a 2-day weekend workshop on Grasping Science for Society, GRASS, for P10K for any number of participants in any media office. I have written 5,000 science essays in the last 12 years – you will enjoy feeding on my GRASS, or your money back if not satisfied!

Meanwhile, you media must be thinking as you always do, playing the endless game journalists play: "In your press release, give what we journalists want to hear!"

Not Mr Dar. Here is the major part of that press statement:

To realize the vision of President Duterte for a food-secure Philippines and to double the income of farmers and fisherfolk, I propose a strategy built around eight paradigms that also make up the "new thinking" for agriculture:

(1)   Modernization of agriculture;

(2)   Industrialization of agriculture;

(3)   Promotion of exports;

(4)   Farm consolidation;

(5)   Roadmap development;

(6)   Infrastructure development;

(7)   Higher budget and investments for agriculture; and

(8)   Legislative support.

Now, assuming that you understand science, how do you apply science to serve society? Like so:

Modernization of agriculture: Mr Dar asks why are 80% of farmlands devoted to only 3 crops: rice, corn and coconut? Our agriculture should be earning more from growing other crops such as cacao and coffee. Economics is a science if you did not know.

Industrialization of agriculture: I say, we must teach the farmers to become business-minded and mind their costs versus their returns.

Promotion of exports: I say, why are we not promoting abaca as export? In it, we have the strongest fiber in the world – and the weakest link in exploiting this is US.

Farm consolidation: What Mr Dar means is not big farms buying small farms, but small farms being operated as corporatives to enjoy economies of scale.

Roadmap development: I say, when you go on a journey of change, you need a New Roadmap.

Infrastructure development: I say, like we need warehouses for farmers' produce to be kept as they await better prices.

Higher budget and investments for agriculture: Mr Dar says the government must invest more in agriculture, and so must the citizens such as in agribusiness.

Legislative support:"For policy and structural reforms" in PH agriculture, Mr Dar says.

Any questions?@517