But the past two decades saw the sector’s decline as industries mushroomed in the country. The average annual sector growth from 1980 to 1989 was estimated at only 1.0% and only 1.5% in the period 1990-1999 (see Table 1). These figures only show how inferior Philippine agriculture had been compared to Asian neighbors like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.

Various factors are said to hamper growth including unabated agricultural land conversion, world competition under globalization, natural calamities / disasters, and other artificial catastrophes (bureaucratic failure, cartel, smuggling, etc).

Science and Technology (S&T) is among the best options to revive this ailing sector. Success stories in the sector resulting from S&T-based solutions abound. The breakthrough in mango flower induction and the tilapia sex reversal technology are among the more familiar examples.

Breakthroughs were also achieved in the production of superior dairy-type animals, high genetics water buffaloes, transgenic mango and papaya with delayed ripening and disease resistance characteristics.

The rates of return (ROI) in agricultural research for selected commodities have been estimated at 11% - 163%, which are higher than most other public investments.

Ironically, the level of S&T investments in the Philippines is low, in fact, below par with its Asian neighbors. Inadequate funding limits S&T’s capability to conduct more research and development (R&D) activities; and to promote matured technologies.

Considering that 75% of the rural poor and more than a third (37% or 11.7 million in 2003 estimates) of all working Filipinos are dependent on agriculture for income and employment, investing in agriculture S&T is one of the most direct strategies for decreasing poverty. (Don Joseph M. Medrana, S&T Media Service)