Learning rural, agri devt from PH neighbors

(Conclusion)

THE success of Park Chung Hee’s Saemaul Undong, which started in 1970, in spurring rural development in South Korea is still evident to this day in the success of its farmer cooperatives that operate their own retail outlets and banks.

The article “Consumer Cooperative in the Republic of Korea” posted in the International Labor Organization website, cited that iCoop Korea, a federation of six primary cooperatives in South Korea mainly involved in food production, recorded a turnover of $460 million in 2015.

In the Philippines, among the most successful of farmer cooperatives is the Nueva Segovia Consor-

tium of Cooperatives (NSCC), an umbrella organization of 200 primary cooperatives with 30,000 members, boasting of a total asset base of more than P2 billion. NSCC operates largely in the northern part of the country.

Government representatives who visited South Korea usually have the same story to tell: that of the successful farmer cooperative movement aided by Park’s Saemaul Undong, also known as the New Community Movement, New Village Movement.

Rod Estigoy, PhD, head of the applied communications division of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, told The ManilaTimes that South Korean farmer cooperatives also export their products abroad because they also studied what goods markets need.

“South Korea and Thailand first studied the markets for various agriculture products so the farmers will know what type of crops to plant, and what type of agriculture products to produce,” Estigoy said.

Former Agriculture secretary William Dar also sees the agriculture sector as the lynchpin in rural development, especially if the sector is treated like an industry.

“The agriculture sector supports a range of ancillary and service industries, generating economic activity in supply and distribution chains as well as processing industries. Where agriculture is the primary economic activity, the entire rural economy, including services such as health care, education and basic infrastructure, may depend on the profitability of the sector,” Dar said.

Strong leadership, laws needed

Gabby Lopez, who has been at the forefront of rural development efforts since the 1970s, and whose expertise is still being sought by government, also believes that very strong leadership is essential to the effective implementation of rural development programs.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy of federalism was the right step towards further spurring rural development.

“You must seize power, have strong leadership which you must use not only to transform, but also to re- educate the pag-iisip (mass consciousness). The largest enemy in transformation and revolution is pag-iisip,” he said.

Dar said candidates in this year’s midterm polls should include agriculture and rural development in their platforms.

“Yes, if a candidate is really sincere in solving poverty in the country, he/ she must know that agriculture is the answer. With the coming elections, aspirants must consider agriculture and rural development in the top priority of their platforms,” said the former head of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.