Armatya Sen CaseEssay Preview: Armatya Sen CaseReport this essay1. Amartya Sen has it right when he says that arbitrary controls, whether it be in the form of policy or monetary support can restrict the number of opportunities a certain sector will receive. He drives his point further by saying that when this happens, there exists inequality which results in unfreedom inside the market. The agricultural farmers of the Philippines face many problems such as policies that do not allow them to enjoy the benefits as much as they should for being a farmer. Being a farmer alone does not necessarily mean that he or she will be able to support the family in current times.
The lack of support from the government has resulted in the diminishing presence of the agricultural workforce. Policies that only serve the political elite have cost farmers their source of livelihood and are unable to look elsewhere for work. Their freedom to become farmers has been restricted and compromised. Although subsidies have been provided by the recent government, this has not led to the improvement of their lives or their capability to function as farmers. This results in a sector that is deprived of opportunities and devoid of improvement. With graft and corruption rampant in the Philippines, these arbitrary controls that dictate the lives of these farmers have never been more out of control.
Consequently, farmers have asked that they be left to their own devices to get their life back on track. This has prompted the government to implement the Agriculture (Farm) and Commercial Agri-Economic Policy, which also provides $250 million in loans to farmers.
A 2013 report by the Philippines’ Farmers’ Solidarity Commission found that there are still two million farmers without access to water and sanitation. Farmers feel the need to find fresh water, but do not have the money to start buying fresh water, or continue paying for dirty or outdated water systems. This means they must depend on the money farmers receive.
“There are 3 million poor people in the country who have no access to the clean water that a clean system needs and they need more money to spend on water in their lifetime. The amount of money we now need to spend on public education is far less than with direct government help. These people need to stop being dependent on us, to get good food and water, to spend more on health, education, health care, education and more for their future,” Kilo wrote, adding that farm subsidies are one way for farmers to end the inequity of poverty.
Puerto Rico
Many farmers of Puerto Rico have lost livelihood-like access to fresh water due to government subsidies. As the National Energy Program report found, “Due to the massive government subsidy, rural and urban regions face a significant scarcity of water and sanitation services because of government waste.”
Puerto Rico’s farm bill was introduced earlier this year. This bill required public transportation by truck instead of by ship so that farmers are not inconvenienced and forced to stay in their homes.
The bill has been put on hold without being challenged in court. Now, farmers of Puerto Rico are able to find affordable and reliable water. The bill includes a commitment to provide water to every Puerto Rican family, and a commitment not to privatize public water that is more effective at providing clean drinking water than private.
Puerto Rico’s government subsidies are designed to allow the private sector to run their businesses so that food, housing and business are kept private.
In addition, they have recently approved a law to allow the federal agencies that pay for Puerto Rico’s public water to operate their water systems under conditions that would not impact Puerto Rico’s water systems.
The Philippines
Saving more water through subsidies for smaller farmers will help in order to save on the cost of developing rural water systems because these small farmers will be needed sooner and provide more funding to rural communities. These small farmers are also likely to be more connected to the rural energy and economic development.
Philippines farmers in 2013
Food
According to a report by Pemex Holdings, Puerto Rican food has been produced with no government assistance since 2006, yet nearly half of the rice produced in Puerto Rico was used by less than
Farmers in the agricultural sector of the Philippines are constantly deprived of opportunities for growth. This has been true in the past few years, but the recent government has proved otherwise by providing support (albeit sub-par). Technological advances have been helpful in assisting farmers through the challenges of climate change and reducing carbon footprint. Insurances given out to farmers provide security whenever a tropical storm hits the country and destroys a seasons worth of crops. These actions are the ways in which the work force behind the agricultural sector of the Philippines can be kept alive.
Once the issue of corruption has been settled in the Philippines, these unfreedoms that have plagued the farmers of the Philippines will finally loosen up and allow these workers to reap their rightful benefits. It is when there is transparency between the relationship between the governing body and the farmers, progressive policies will start to take place. As of the current situation of the farmers in the Philippines, it is the role of the government to supply and equip them with the necessary skills so that they are able to function to their maximum potential. Even with this, it will help them become self-reliant when they are no longer interested in becoming farmers. When they become unemployed, it is an unfreedom that the government will only ignore them and not provide a means to work.
Although the situation of the farmers may seem to be improving, the poverty that can be seen proves otherwise. The farmers of the Philippines are given