The Unjust Reality for Rice Farmers

A recent post from the Philippine Star's page featured the artwork of Jowee Anne Aguinaldo. I was moved by this post, especially the artwork included, because of the profound message it conveys. 

Puro Kahig, Walang Matuka by Jowee Anne Aguinaldo

When I saw this post, it felt like a wave of sadness and disappointment washed over me, particularly for the farmers. While we, as consumers, joyfully gather around our dinner tables, we often fail to realize that there are farmers toiling hard to plant and harvest the very food we enjoy. Yet, the equivalent of their sweat and toil isn't enough to feed their own families, mainly due to their low wages. It's disheartening that the price of rice continues to rise while the value of the farmers' wages remains stagnant. I can say that life is incredibly unjust for them because they are not reaping what they deserve. We, as rice consumers, may complain about the soaring rice prices, but we forget that there are farmers whose voices are unheard as they cry out for help in increasing their wages. It's painful to think that this kind of system is still prevalent in the Philippines. 

Issues of income inequality, unfair labor practices, and challenges within the agricultural sector are problems that the government does not seem to be addressing adequately. The farmers are not receiving the compensation they rightfully deserve. Artist Jowee Anne Aguinaldo said, "We should take a moment to acknowledge and understand the sacrifices they make to ensure that all of us have food on our tables. It's worth noting that while they feed our nation, many of them struggle to feed their own families, highlighting the importance of our support." I used to think that I complained a lot about the rising price of rice, but I didn't realize that even when the price of rice is high, the income of the farmers remains low. What if the price of rice is lowered? Will the farmers' income decrease even more? These are the questions that concern me. I also thought about my friends. Many of my friends have fathers who work as farmers and barely make ends meet due to the small income they get from farming. I saw how their fathers struggled, and the result of this struggle was just a meager amount of money. I want the government to pay attention to this because it has been several years since they experienced it, and there has been no change. I want them to hear the voices of the farmers because we, as consumers, may be affected by the price of rice, but they are the ones more deeply affected by this situation.

Written by Mekyla Jane Ticar