The Philippines observes the last week of April as the "Rice Festival Week," an annual observance that underscores the central role of agriculture in ensuring food security and sustaining rural livelihoods. However, as the government intensifies efforts to modernize Philippine agriculture through technology, mechanization, and digital innovation, a key question emerges: who truly benefits from these transformations?  

The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS), through its 2023 study "Toward a Human-Centered Agriculture Modernization: Cases from the Philippines," emphasized that transforming the agricultural sector into a technologically advanced industry must also ensure that farmers’ livelihoods are not left behind.    

Although the 1997 Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) established clear guidelines for modernizing the country's agricultural landscape, the study argues that it has often overlooked the "human" aspect of the industry. Technological advancement must go hand in hand with enabling farmers to manage new technologies and run their businesses sustainably. Otherwise, those unable to adapt risk losing their livelihoods and jobs as certain roles become obsolete in favor of more efficient machines.    

Strengthening the Regulatory and Support Framework 

The study primarily recommended revisiting the AFMA to provide stronger incentives and financial assistance to farmers. These measures can serve as an entry into a welfare-to-work transition, where farmers initially receive government support until they are able to sustain themselves independently. This approach helps ensure that modernization efforts do not come at the expense of worker security.    

Human Capital Development and Youth Engagement 

To address the aging farming population, the study recommends that TESDA and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) strengthen the promotion of agricultural programs to generate greater interest among the youth. It also highlights the importance of providing scholarships to youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), enabling them to participate in the  labor force and potentially pursue careers in agriculture that offer clear, secure, and sustainable progression. 

Mainstreaming Gender and Inclusive Infrastructure 

To address gender disparities noted in the study, such as the double burden of paid and care work borne by women, and unequal access to technical skills training, the study recommends the collection of sex-disaggregated data on the adoption of new technologies and participation in skills training. This will allow the government to design more inclusive policies that ensure equitable access to the benefits of modernization for all farmers, regardless of gender.    

Organizing for Productivity and Innovation 

The study also supports the establishment of community-based cooperatives and workers' associations to assist small-scale farmers. These institutions can help farmers access information on government incentives and develop the competencies needed to effectively utilize  advanced agricultural technologies.    

Call for Action: Harmonizing Technology and Livelihoods 

The study underscores that modernizing the agricultural sector is not about replacing workers with machines, but an opportunity to empower them. Genuine progress requires a human-centered approach – one that views technology as a tool for empowerment rather than a means to reduce labor costs or displace livelihoods.  

Beyond improving efficiency,  modernization efforts must also provide farmers with social protection, inclusive skills training, and gender-responsive frameworks that protect vulnerable groups, particularly women. By revisiting the AFMA and prioritizing our farmer’s welfare, the Philippines can build an agricultural sector that is not only technologically advanced and globally competitive, but also socially just and resilient.

Read the full research paper at https://ils.dole.gov.ph/2023-research-papers/toward-a-human-centered-agriculture-modernization-cases-from-the-philippines  

For more information, visit the official ILS website at https://ils.dole.gov.ph/ 

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