CARP originally targeted 24 million hectares for distribution to more than eight million landless peasants, share tenant and other agricultural workers when the government’s agrarian reform program started in 1988. But this original target was reduced to only 4.8 million hectares.
Farmers who have already received land through CARP incur substantial losses because of the high cost of production, insufficient development of post-harvest facilities and farm-to-market roads, and unavailability of credit and production support for farmers.
“Even if congress accommodates CARP extension, we will continue exposing and opposing the ills of CARP for the benefit of the majority of the Filipinos,” Ramada said.
Hundreds of farmers from Compostela Valley province, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and North Cotabato trooped to Davao City on June 9 and 10 to join other farmers and multi-sectoral groups gathered in calling for the death of CARP which expired on June 10.
Dubbed ‘Lakbayan sa katawhan batok sa krisis, kagutom ug pasismo’ (Peoples’ cararavan against crisis, hunger and fascism), the protest action highlighted the massive food and economic insecurity hurting the country’s poor.
Instead of CARP, farmers groups are calling for the passing of HB 3059, which will allow for the distribution of free land and farm implements to farmers. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)
Ramada said it is ironic that Mindanao, the country’s food basket and producer of a third of the country’s agricultural output, is beset with food scarcity. He pointed out that the country’s longest NFA queues, and the most outrageous rice price hikes were in Davao City.
Ramada said the Arroyo government’s military policies, which led to the displacement of farmers in the Davao region, worsened hunger incidence and food insecurity.
The caravan also demanded justice for the killing of agrarian reform activist Celso Pojas to highlight the farmers’ clamor for land. (CJ Kuizon/ davaotoday.com)
Land Reform
