Philippines celebrates 43 years
of glyphosate as a tool for food security For over four decades, Glyphosate has been used by farmers all over the world as an effective tool for weed management.
In the Philippines in particular, it is used during land preparation before planting, between crop rows and surrounding field edges and bunds during crop growth, and finally for over-the-top weed control. As such, it is an essential tool for food security as a tool for proper land preparation that reduces the need to till the soil to preserve organic nutrients. It also reduces labor and other costs for farmers for manual hand weeding, as well as kaingin or slash and burn. Studies have shown if glyphosate is banned, labor hours of farmers could increase by as much as 49 percent, not to mention the added cost of having to shell out to obtain more manpower for the additional workload needed to maintain the farmlands. Glyphosate protects crops like yellow corn, which supports 40 to 60 percent of the supply of animal feeds. The most likely socioeconomic effects of prohibiting or limiting the usage of glyphosate would include corn-producing areas of the nation, which include the Cagayan Valley and Region 2, and Region 12 of SOCCKSARGEN. Based on a 2016-2020 survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Cagayan Valley produces 30.5 percent of all yellow corn of the overall national output. The use of essential equipment like glyphosate-based pesticides will also have an effect on agricultural farmers. “Effective weed management with the help of glyphosate is essential across different sectors of the agriculture industry in ensuring food security in the country. This is why we continue to promote awareness about its benefits to local farmers,” CropLife Philippines Executive Director Ramon Abadilla said. |